Latest news with #Diciotti
Local Italy
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Local Italy
Italy's government furious as top court orders compensation for migrants
The case was brought by Eritrean nationals who were held on the Diciotti ship after then Interior Minister Salvini denied them and dozens of other migrants permission to disembark at an Italian port. Italy's Court of Cassation ruled on Thursday that Rome must compensate the migrants, instructing another court to determine the sum. The judges found "the obligation to rescue at a duty" imposed on everyone and prevails over measures "intended to combat illegal immigration". Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has made curbing the arrival of migrant boats from North Africa one of her key battles, defended Salvini, who is now deputy prime minister in her hard-right coalition. "The government will have to compensate, with the money of honest Italian citizens who pay taxes, people who tried to enter Italy illegally," she wrote on X. Meloni said it was "frustrating" to have to fork out money for compensation "while we do not have enough resources to do everything that needs doing". Speaking to reporters in Milan, Salvini said that "if some judges love illegal migrants so much, they should take them into their homes and maintain them." The ruling also sparked an angry reaction from Salvini's anti-immigration League party, which slammed it as "absurd". "Let these judges pay out of their own pockets if they love illegal immigrants so much," it said in a statement. In December last year, Salvini was acquitted in a trial where he stood accused of kidnapping after keeping migrants at sea in 2019. Prosecutors had sought to try Salvini in the 2018 Diciotti case as well, but parliament voted against stripping him of his parliamentary immunity. Meloni's government has adopted a tough stance against the tens of thousands of migrants who each year attempt the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Italy in rickety boats. Over 7,000 migrants have arrived in Italy since the start of the year compared to 4,895 during the same period in 2024, according to interior ministry data.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Italy ordered to compensate migrants held on rescue ship in 2018
Italy's highest court on Friday ruled that the government must pay compensation to a group of migrants who were held for around 10 days in 2018 on a coastguard ship after being rescued in the Mediterranean. At the time, just over 150 migrants were rescued by the Italian coastguard. Then interior minister Matteo Salvini banned the migrants from disembarking the coastguard's Diciotti ship in the port of Catania in Sicily. They were only allowed to leave the boat after Albania and Italy offered to take in some of the group. The Catholic Church in Italy also offered to help. Some migrants demanded compensation after the incident. Following Friday's decision by the Supreme Court of Cassation, a court must now determine the exact amount of damages to be paid. Italy's right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, criticized the court's decision, complaining that the government would have to use "the money of honest Italian citizens who pay taxes" to compensate people who "tried to enter Italy illegally." Salvini, now Italy's deputy prime minister, called the ruling a "disgrace." As interior minister, he sparked criticism for his "closed ports" policy towards migrant rescue ships.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Italy ordered to compensate migrants held on rescue ship in 2018
Italy's highest court on Friday ruled that the government must pay compensation to a group of migrants who were held for around 10 days in 2018 on a coastguard ship after being rescued in the Mediterranean. At the time, just over 150 migrants were rescued by the Italian coastguard. Then interior minister Matteo Salvini banned the migrants from disembarking the coastguard's Diciotti ship in the port of Catania in Sicily. They were only allowed to leave the boat after Albania and Italy offered to take in some of the group. The Catholic Church in Italy also offered to help. Some migrants demanded compensation after the incident. Following Friday's decision by the Supreme Court of Cassation, a court must now determine the exact amount of damages to be paid. Italy's right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, criticized the court's decision, complaining that the government would have to use "the money of honest Italian citizens who pay taxes" to compensate people who "tried to enter Italy illegally." Salvini, now Italy's deputy prime minister, called the ruling a "disgrace." As interior minister, he sparked criticism for his "closed ports" policy towards migrant rescue ships.
Al-Ahram Weekly
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Italy's top court orders Rome to compensate migrants - International
Italy's highest court has ordered the state to compensate migrants held in port for 10 days in 2018 by then interior minister Matteo Salvini, prompting outrage Friday from the government. The case was brought by Eritreans detained along with dozens of other migrants on the Diciotti military ship after Salvini -- who heads an anti-immigration party -- refused permission to disembark in an Italian port while he tried to get other European states to take them. The Court of Cassation ruled Thursday that Rome must pay compensation and instructed another court to determine the sum. The judges found "the obligation to rescue at sea... is a duty" imposed on everyone and prevails over measures "intended to combat illegal immigration". Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has made stopping the arrival of migrant boats from North Africa one of her key battles, defended Salvini, who is now deputy prime minister in her right-wing coalition. "The government will have to compensate, with the money of honest Italian citizens who pay taxes, people who tried to enter Italy illegally," she wrote on X. Meloni's government frequently clashes with judges it deems "politicised", and she said it was "frustrating" to have to fork out money for compensation "while we do not have enough resources to do everything that needs doing". Speaking to reporters in Milan, Salvini said that "if some judges love illegal migrants so much, they should take them into their homes and maintain them." The ruling also sparked an angry reaction from Salvini's League party, which slammed it as "absurd". "Let these judges pay out of their own pockets if they love illegal immigrants so much," it said in a statement. Salvini was acquitted in December in a trial relating to a similar case in which he was accused of kidnap for blocking migrants at sea in 2019. Prosecutors had sought to try Salvini in the 2018 Diciotti case as well, but on that occasion parliament voted against stripping him of his immunity. Meloni's government has adopted a tough stance against the tens of thousands of migrants who each year attempt the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Italy in rickety boats in a bid to enter Europe. However, just over 7,000 migrants have landed in Italy since the start of the year, compared to 4,895 during the same period in 2024, according to interior ministry data. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
