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| Matteo Salvini formally investigated over migrant ship standoff | Matteo Salvini formally investigated over migrant ship standoff |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and minister of the interior, has been formally placed under investigation for the possible illegal detention and kidnapping of over 100 people, after he refused to let a group of refugees and migrants disembark from a coastguard rescue ship. | Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and minister of the interior, has been formally placed under investigation for the possible illegal detention and kidnapping of over 100 people, after he refused to let a group of refugees and migrants disembark from a coastguard rescue ship. |
| The Ubaldo Diciotti has been docked since Monday at the Sicilian port of Catania, initially with 177 migrants on board. Salvini said no one would be allowed to leave the boat until he had guarantees that other European nations would take most of them in. | The Ubaldo Diciotti has been docked since Monday at the Sicilian port of Catania, initially with 177 migrants on board. Salvini said no one would be allowed to leave the boat until he had guarantees that other European nations would take most of them in. |
| A few days into the standoff, he allowed a group of 27 children travelling alone to disembark, and on Saturday doctors identified 16 people in need of immediate medical care, who were also allowed to leave the vessel. Two of them had possible symptoms of tuberculosis. | A few days into the standoff, he allowed a group of 27 children travelling alone to disembark, and on Saturday doctors identified 16 people in need of immediate medical care, who were also allowed to leave the vessel. Two of them had possible symptoms of tuberculosis. |
| However, there are still 134 people on board the ship, which is less than 100 metres long. Prosecutors are now investigating Salvini, a far-right populist, for holding all 177 hostage, they said on Saturday. | However, there are still 134 people on board the ship, which is less than 100 metres long. Prosecutors are now investigating Salvini, a far-right populist, for holding all 177 hostage, they said on Saturday. |
| Italy appears to be in violation of the European convention on human rights, which states that any asylum seeker detained for more than 48 hours should be released and given the opportunity to apply for refugee status. | Italy appears to be in violation of the European convention on human rights, which states that any asylum seeker detained for more than 48 hours should be released and given the opportunity to apply for refugee status. |
| An investigation into the alleged illegal detention of passengers on the ship was first launched on Wednesday, by Luigi Patronaggio, chief prosecutor for Agrigento, who visited the ship and questioned its passengers. Magistrates travelled to Rome on Friday to question Salvini, members of his staff and at least two high-ranking officials in the ministry of the interior. | An investigation into the alleged illegal detention of passengers on the ship was first launched on Wednesday, by Luigi Patronaggio, chief prosecutor for Agrigento, who visited the ship and questioned its passengers. Magistrates travelled to Rome on Friday to question Salvini, members of his staff and at least two high-ranking officials in the ministry of the interior. |
| Prosecutors slowly worked towards the highest levels of the minister’s command structure. At first, the magistrate did not rule out questioning Salvini himself, but after interviews with his staff, prosecutors decided it was not necessary, sources told the Guardian. | Prosecutors slowly worked towards the highest levels of the minister’s command structure. At first, the magistrate did not rule out questioning Salvini himself, but after interviews with his staff, prosecutors decided it was not necessary, sources told the Guardian. |
| “I heard prosecutors asked for my details. Here you go. I was born in Milan, March 9 1973, in Milan. I’m ready and proud to be arrested because I’m fighting to defend the Italian border,” Salvini wrote on Facebook as the news emerged about the investigation. | “I heard prosecutors asked for my details. Here you go. I was born in Milan, March 9 1973, in Milan. I’m ready and proud to be arrested because I’m fighting to defend the Italian border,” Salvini wrote on Facebook as the news emerged about the investigation. |
| The Diciotti crisis began on 15 August, when the vessel rescued 190 people from an overcrowded boat off the Italian island of Lampedusa. | The Diciotti crisis began on 15 August, when the vessel rescued 190 people from an overcrowded boat off the Italian island of Lampedusa. |
| Thirteen were evacuated for emergency medical treatment, and after the boat was turned away by Maltese authorities, it was allowed to dock in Sicily. However, Salvini said he would not allow those on board to disembark until he was assured all would “go elsewhere”. | Thirteen were evacuated for emergency medical treatment, and after the boat was turned away by Maltese authorities, it was allowed to dock in Sicily. However, Salvini said he would not allow those on board to disembark until he was assured all would “go elsewhere”. |
| The case drew fierce censure abroad, but Salvini has hit out against critics in Europe, threatening to suspend the country’s financial contribution to the EU if Brussels does not intervene to redistribute the people on board. The European Union described the threats as unhelpful. | |
| Matteo Salvini | Matteo Salvini |
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| Italy | Italy |
| Migration | Migration |
| Refugees | Refugees |
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