Italian League leader Matteo Salvini is on trial at the Palaceof Sicily because in August 2019 as Minister of the Interior he had not allowed the disembarkation of migrants of the ship Open Arms in a port of Italy.
Among the witnesses against Salvini is the American actor Richard Gere. The famous actor in August 2019, when the Open Arms boat remained off the coast of the island of Lampedusa without a disembarkation permit, boarded the Spanish ship to transport food to migrants.
The Palermo prosecutor confirmed that Gere would testify as a prosecution witness. “Apart from the spectacular evidence of the presence of a famous actor,” said prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, “he will have a lot to say about the conditions on the ship.”
“These people came from hell”
The American actor in an interview with the Italian network La7 spoke about his experience at Open Arms: “I was in Italy this summer and a friend of mine told me:” Did you learn about this new Italian law? “It is a crime to help NGOs that save people in the middle of the Mediterranean.” I replied: “Are you kidding me?” In 5 minutes I decided to take a flight to Lampedusa. “I spent a whole day collecting supplies and finding a boat I went on the ship with the refugees.”
“People at Open Arms have touched my heart,” said Richard Gere. They were coming from hell, all the women had been raped. “
“Last August, Salvini asked why I did not take the immigrants to Hollywood to take them on my private jet. If I had a private jet, I would gladly do so. But I do not have. I also called Salvini to the Open Arms to understand that they were people and not crazy rapists who wanted to kill him or harm his family or destroy Italy. They are people like us, who just want to be happy and escape suffering, just like us. They are brothers and sisters. “
The NGO Proactiva Open Arms argues that rescuing people in international waters is not a political issue and accuses Mateo Salvini of racism. “Rescuing people at sea is not a crime. This applies to us, but also to all countries, “said Oscar Camps, head of Proactiva Open Arms.
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