Salvini rejects kidnap charges over migrants stuck on ship
ITALY’S far-right interior minister has dismissed possible kidnapping charges over the detention of more than 100 migrants, saying the accusation gave him a “badge of honour”, as he geared up for a clash with the judiciary.
The group of 150 migrants finally left the Italian coastguard ship Diciotti yesterday, 10 days after they were first rescued, following an agreement that Ireland and Albania would take some of them in. Italy had refused permission for them to disembark.
The ship, also carrying 42 Italian crew members, initially rescued 190 migrants off the coast of Libya on August 16. The sickest and youngest were allowed to leave earlier. But approximately a dozen of the mostly Eritrean migrants stranded on board were admitted to hospital, after disembarking, some with symptoms of tuberculosis, pneumonia and scabies. All 11 women on board had been victims of sexual violence, port medical officials said.
The head of Italy’s Medical Agency (AIFA) Stefano Vella resigned in protest at their treatment yesterday.
Mr Salvini and another high-ranking member of the Italian government have been placed under formal investigation by prosecutors for potential “illegal arrest, illegal confinement and abuse of office”.
But Mr Salvini, the head of the farright League, has treated the episode as a boost to his anti-immigration credentials.
“Every inquiry, lie, insult or threat because I defend the security, borders and future of Italians, is a medal for me,” Mr Salvini said in a tweet.