Italian prosecutors are pushing for a six-year prison sentence for Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini over his decision to prevent a migrant boat from docking in August 2019. At that time, Salvini, who served as interior minister, blocked the Open Arms charity ship carrying 147 migrants from reaching the island of Lampedusa for nearly three weeks before a court intervened.
Salvini faces charges of kidnapping and dereliction of duty, which he denies. He defends his actions, stating his aim was to prevent Italy from becoming a “refugee camp for all of Europe.” He publicly declared himself “guilty of defending Italy and Italians.”
The Open Arms vessel had rescued migrants near the Libyan coast and attempted to dock in Lampedusa, an island that has seen numerous migrant landings in recent years. Salvini’s “closed ports” policy, which he enforced as part of his interior ministry role, was designed to deter people smuggling operations by limiting access to Italian ports.
During the trial, crewmembers testified that conditions aboard the ship worsened, with deteriorating health and sanitation, including an outbreak of scabies. Prosecutor Geri Ferrara emphasized that, under Italy’s democratic system, “human rights must prevail over the protection of state sovereignty.” Salvini, however, maintained that he did not believe the ship’s situation was critical.
A verdict is expected next month. If convicted, Salvini could face six years in prison and be barred from holding public office. Despite the legal challenges, Salvini remains defiant. He took to social media to assert that “defending Italy is not a crime” and praised his government’s efforts, which he claimed led to reduced migrant landings and deaths in the Mediterranean.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her solidarity with Salvini, denouncing the charges as an alarming precedent. She argued that no Italian minister should be prosecuted for carrying out their duties to protect national borders.