All as expected. The Deputy Prosecutor of Palermo Marzia Sabella, at the end of the closing speech of the Open Arms trial, which lasted about seven hours, asked for a six-year sentence for Minister Matteo Salvini, accused of kidnapping and refusal to perform official duties. “We are preparing to ask for the defendant’s sentence”, explains Sabella, remembering the 147 migrants who were the injured parties in the trial, “as well as to defend the boundaries of law…”, she said. “The voluntary and conscious refusal” by Matteo Salvini to grant port to the migrants on the Open Arms “has violated the personal freedom of 147 people for no appreciable reason”, she said. “In this trial, the majority of the injured parties were missing, because to be an injured party you have to be born in the right part. Most are untraceable and that doesn’t mean they are criminals, but it means they are homeless and without means”.
The request for conviction comes at the end of a closing argument judged by the defense as a political act. “It’s a somewhat contradictory closing argument, I would say, because the premise is ‘we are not putting the government on trial’ but then, up until now, he has said that the security decree bis ‘is in conflict with the Constitution’ and that ‘it is not acceptable to first redistribute and then disembark’. And that ‘the technical table is a table that overturned fundamental principles'”, said the lawyer Giulia Bongiorno, legal representative of the current minister and deputy prime minister. The prosecutor “for now is talking about government lines that he contests. Therefore, there is no conduct by Salvini in the dock but there is a political line in the dock”, Bongiorno points out. Salvini, in some statements reported by Corriere, had previously commented: “I did my duty to defend my country, its borders and its security, with the result, of which I am particularly proud, of having saved human lives. I defended the national interest without causing harm to anyone”.
#years #prison #requested #Salvini #Tempo
2024-09-16 12:14:33
– What are the key accusations against Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial?
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Open Arms Trial: Prosecutor Seeks 6-Year Sentence for Matteo Salvini
In a dramatic turn of events, Deputy Prosecutor of Palermo, Marzia Sabella, has requested a six-year sentence for Italy’s former Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, in the highly publicized Open Arms trial. The trial, which began in October 2020, centers around Salvini’s decision to block the Open Arms migrant rescue ship from docking in Italy in August 2019, leaving 147 migrants stranded at sea for several days.
The Prosecutor’s Case
Sabella, in her seven-hour closing argument, emphasized that Salvini’s actions were a “voluntary and conscious refusal” to grant port to the migrants, violating their personal freedom without any “appreciable reason.” She highlighted that the majority of the injured parties were missing, not because they were criminals, but because they were homeless and without means. The prosecutor stressed that the trial was not about putting the government on trial, but about defending the boundaries of the law and upholding the principles of humanity.
The Defense’s Response
Salvini’s lawyer, Giulia Bongiorno, countered that the prosecutor’s closing argument was “somewhat contradictory” and tantamount to a political act. Bongiorno argued that Sabella’s statements about the security decree bis being in conflict with the Constitution and the technical table overturning fundamental principles were, in effect, targeting the government’s political line rather than Salvini’s conduct. The defense team maintains that the prosecution is unfairly targeting Salvini’s political decisions rather than his actions as a minister.
The Background
The Open Arms trial has sparked intense debate in Italy, with many perceiving it as a political witch-hunt. Salvini, who was interior minister at the time, had been a vocal opponent of migrant arrivals in Italy and had implemented a series of decrees aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers entering the country. The Open Arms incident was just one of several instances where Salvini’s government had blocked migrant rescue ships from docking in Italian ports.
The Impact
The trial’s outcome will have significant implications for Italy’s political landscape and its approach to migration policy. A conviction for Salvini could have far-reaching consequences for his political career, while an acquittal could embolden his party, the League, to pursue even more hardline stances on migration.
The Human Cost
At the heart of the trial, however, are the 147 migrants who were stranded at sea for days, vulnerable to the elements and without access to basic necessities. Their plight serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of political decisions and the need for leaders to balance national interests with humanitarian concerns.
the Open Arms trial has brought to the fore the complexities of migration policy, political accountability, and humanitarian responsibility. As the world waits with bated breath for the verdict, one thing is clear: the outcome will have far-reaching implications for Italy, the European Union, and the global community.
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The Open Arms trial has reached its climax, with the prosecutor requesting a 6-year sentence for Matteo Salvini. Read the latest updates on the trial and its implications for Italy’s migration policy and humanitarian responsibility.
– What are the main accusations against Matteo Salvini in the Open Arms trial?
Salvini Faces Six Years in Prison: Understanding the Open Arms Trial
Published: September 16, 2024
In a dramatic turn of events, the Deputy Prosecutor of Palermo, Marzia Sabella, has requested a six-year prison sentence for former Italian Minister Matteo Salvini in the highly publicized Open Arms trial. The trial, which has sparked heated debates and political tensions, revolves around the alleged kidnapping and refusal to perform official duties by Salvini during his tenure as Minister of the Interior.
The Accusations Against Salvini
The Open Arms trial centers around the events of August 2019, when the NGO-operated ship Open Arms rescued 147 migrants from the Mediterranean Sea. Salvini, as the then-Minister of the Interior, refused to grant the ship entry into Italian ports, citing concerns over national security and the need to control immigration.
The prosecution argues that Salvini’s decision was a voluntary and conscious refusal, violating the personal freedom of the 147 migrants on board. Sabella asserts that Salvini’s actions were not justified by any appreciable reason, leading to the violation of the migrants’ human rights.
The Defense’s Perspective
Salvini’s defense team, led by lawyer Giulia Bongiorno, has rejected the prosecution’s claims, stating that the former Minister was simply doing his duty to defend Italy’s borders and national security. Bongiorno has characterized the prosecution’s closing argument as a political act, aiming to condemn Salvini’s political stance rather than his actions as a minister.
The Political Implications
The Open Arms trial has far-reaching political implications, with many seeing it as a test of the Italian government’s stance on immigration and human rights. The trial has sparked intense debates about the limits of political power and the role of NGOs in rescuing migrants at sea.
What’s Next?
The court will now deliberate on the prosecution’s request for a six-year prison sentence for Salvini. The verdict is expected to have significant consequences for Italian politics and the international community, as it sets a precedent for the responsibilities of government officials in protecting human rights.
In this article, we have provided an in-depth analysis of the Open Arms trial, exploring the key accusations against Matteo Salvini and the implications for Italian politics and human rights. As the trial continues to unfold, stay tuned for updates and insights into this critical event.
Read Also:
Behind the Curtain: Exploring Raw Responses from the Government
Here is the Name of the Killer
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