Richard Gere Called to Testify Against Italian Minister on 2019 Migrant Ship in Italy
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Italy's right-wing former interior minister, Matteo Salvini, went on trial Saturday, charged with kidnapping for refusing in 2019 to allow a Spanish migrant rescue ship to dock in Sicily, keeping the people on board at sea for days.
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Former minister of interior, Matteo Salvini, center, leaves the Palermo's court in Italy, on October 23, 2021
The leader of Italy's right-wing League party Matteo Salvini denounced facing kidnapping charges for refusing to let a migrant ship dock in the country in 2019 as US actor and human rights activist Richard Gere was admitted to testify, among other witnesses such Italy's former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and other senior Italian politicians.
Salvini, who was Italy's interior minister at that time, has repeatedly denied the accusations of kidnapping; however, he has admitted to having blocked the ship from docking in Italy, saying it was his duty as interior minister.
His lawyer, Giulia Bongiorno, has argued that this trial should not even be held under Italian jurisdiction, because the ship is Spanish and that a Spanish-flagged ship did not have authority to dock in an Italian port without permission.
"Defending a country's borders, security, honor, and dignity is not just a minister's duty but everyone's duty," he said. "Being put on trial for just doing my duty is surreal," Salvini said.
Richard Gere was in Italy at the time and joined the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms -- which managed the rescue ship -- to deliver food to migrants on board, who were left stranded at sea for days as Salvini denied the ship permission to disembark in Italy in August 2019, putting their lives at risk.
Salvini appeared on Saturday at the second hearing of a trial in the Sicilian capital Palermo.
"Now you tell me how serious is a trial where Richard Gere comes from Hollywood to testify on how bad I am," Salvini questioned, speaking to reporters after the first hearing in Palermo on Saturday.
It is not clear whether Gere will personally appear to give evidence at the trial.
If found guilty, Salvini could face up to 15 years in prison. A definitive conviction could bar him from future government office.
The court scheduled a further hearing on December 17.
