Minister Matteo Salvini.
The story of the Open Armswhich began in August 2019, is one of the most significant cases on the management of migratory flows in Italy and Europe. Matteo Salvini, former Interior Minister, is accused of kidnapping and abuse of office for having prevented the disembarkation of 147 migrants rescued by the ship of the Spanish NGO Open Arms. The trial reached a crucial stage with the closing statement of the public prosecutor (PM) Geri Ferrara, who requested a six-year sentence for the former minister. Below, a detailed reconstruction of the events and key positions in the case.
The rescue and blocking of the ship (August 2019)
There Open Armsafter rescuing 147 migrants in the Mediterranean, asks to disembark in a safe port as required by international conventions. Matteo Salvini, then Interior Minister, denies authorization, arguing that Italy cannot take in more migrants without first resolving the issue of redistribution among European countries. The ship remains blocked for 19 days off the Italian coast, generating intense political and media debate.
The seizure of the ship and the disembarkation
With the worsening of conditions on board, including the psychological crisis of many migrants, the Agrigento judiciary orders the seizure of the ship and the immediate disembarkation in Lampedusa. Health authorities confirm the medical emergency on board, while testimonies from operators and migrants describe a critical situation.
The accusations against Salvini and the beginning of the trial (October 2020)
Salvini’s trial begins on charges of kidnapping, a charge motivated by the fact that the minister had limited the freedom of migrants without a legal justification. The defense argues that the decision was part of a strategy shared by the government to protect national borders. However, Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister at the time of the events, denies this line, declaring that there was no political decision that justified the prolonged blockade.
The trial: defense and prosecution
Salvini’s defense, led by lawyer Giulia Bongiorno, is based on the idea that the decision was necessary to combat illegal immigration. Salvini has argued that he was doing his duty to protect Italy’s borders, citing Article 52 of the Constitution, which establishes the defense of the homeland as a sacred duty.
On the other hand, the prosecution claims that the fundamental human rights of migrants have been violated. PM Ferrara stressed that, according to international conventions, all people rescued at sea must be disembarked in a safe place, regardless of their legal status. Even criminals or terrorists must be saved, and this principle is the basis of international maritime law.
The testimonies and the evidence
During the trial, several testimonies confirmed the gravity of the situation on board the Open Arms. The images and videos shot during the blockade show the suffering of the migrants, many of whom were unaccompanied minors. The testimonies of health workers and those on board describe a picture of great physical and psychological emergency.
The prosecutor’s closing statement (September 2024)
On September 14, during his closing speech, the prosecutor Geri Ferrara requested a six-year sentence for Salvini. Ferrara accused the former minister of having acted with “total disregard for the rules,” stating that human rights prevail over any consideration of national or political sovereignty. Salvini’s decision to block the landing, according to the prosecution, violated the fundamental rights of migrants, including the right to personal freedom.
Ferrara also stressed that the release of a safe port is an administrative act, not a political one, and recalled that none of the witnesses confirmed the presence of terrorists or criminals on board the ship, as initially claimed by the defense. International conventions oblige rescue at sea and establish that migrants must be transferred to a safe place, without exceptions.
Political reactions
The case has inevitably sparked a wide-ranging political debate. Giorgia Meloni, the current prime minister, has expressed her support for Salvini, calling the trial a dangerous precedent for those who defend national borders. Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, has also defended Salvini, calling the prosecutor’s request unreasonable. However, on the other side of the political spectrum, Elly Schlein of the Partito Democratico criticized political involvement in the case, saying that the separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary is a fundamental principle of democracy.