“The circumstances have not changed” and “13 months in prison are not that many”: these two sentences pronounced by judge Jozsef Sòs shatter Ilaria Salis’s hopes of leaving prison where she has been imprisoned since February 2023 to await the outcome of his trial under house arrest in Hungary.
The decision of the Hungarian justice system arrives without too much hesitation and without a moment’s reflection, giving no discount to the Italian activist, accused of two attacks against far-right militants and of being part of a criminal association. The charges are too serious to grant her house arrest, even with the electronic bracelet, and to change her status as a dangerous prisoner, who is therefore transferred with handcuffs and chains on her ankles, as well as being held by an officer with another chain as a leash. So she arrived in the courtroom today too, and therefore the media outcry, the international reactions and the appeals of the Italian government were of no use.
“At this point I will have to make a call to the Quirinale to try to get a hand from the President of the Republic” Roberto Salis said this, interviewed on Piazza Pulita on La7. “I no longer know what to do with appeals to the Italian government,” Salis said further. “Today I did not receive any calls from the Italian institutions. There were seven parliamentarians at the trial, none of the majority.” For Ilaria’s father, “it is useless to argue in a country where the laws of law are totally trampled upon”. “The reason for the refusal” of house arrest for Ilaria, he said among other things, “was already ready” before the hearing.
ANSA Agency Ilaria Salis, from arrest to chains in the courtroom – News – Ansa.it In prison on 11 February 2023, house arrest rejected several times (ANSA) “She was still treated like a dog”, her father Roberto’s outburst, after just over three hours of a hearing that began with a dangerous crossroads between Ilaria Salis’s group of friends, including Zerocalcare, and Zoltán’s group Tóth, far-right militant victim of the attack suffered on February 10th who was supposed to be heard today before various technical problems caused all the testimonies to fail. “They spoke to us in Hungarian in a threatening tone – said lawyer Eugenio Losco, Salis’ Italian lawyer – the interpreter was nearby and he told us that they were threatening us with phrases like ‘we’ll break your face'”.
ANSA Agency The Court of Milan: “Gabriele Marchesi is free again, risk of inhuman treatment in Hungarian prisons” – News – Ansa.it Hungary’s request to hand over Ilaria Salis’ 23-year-old co-suspect rejected (ANSA) “The climate has never been good”, the first comment from Roberto Salis on a day that had nothing good for the Italian activist’s father.
Because the defense argument focused on the “important changes” compared to the previous hearing was of no use: Ilaria now has a Hungarian residence where she can also stay with the electronic bracelet and carry out online work. Furthermore, she has always behaved well in prison and she has “no intention of running away or hiding”. Ilaria Salis confirms, when questioned by the judge: “I have no intention of disappearing or running away and therefore I can stay under house arrest even in Milan”.
Then the prosecutor speaks and starts off like a rocket and never stops, and the translator has no chance of keeping up with her: essentially, she confirms the accusations which concern crimes that are too serious and therefore there must be no easing of the precautionary measures, still remembering that the blows that Salis inflicted on the victims were “potentially lethal”.
But in reality everyone’s words seem like a long and only necessary introduction to a decision already made, which in fact the judge communicates without even taking a pause: “The circumstances have not changed”, there is always the risk of escape and a precautionary detention of 13 months “is not that long given the seriousness of the crimes established by the Prosecutor’s Office”. Roberto Salis immediately gets up from the bench in the front row, leaves the room and then returns. He returns to sit next to his wife Roberta and regains his fighting spirit. He talks to his daughter, who always seems the calmest of all, and then attacks Orban’s government, “which has given another show of strength and doesn’t care about the European guaranteeist positions”, and the Italian one “which should make itself a ‘examination of conscience’ given the ‘bad impression’. Minister Tajani judges the choice not to grant house arrest to be “wrong”, protests for the treatment of the chains but invites us to “not politicize the case” referring to “diplomacy and prudence”. Ilaria’s father instead appeals for solidarity, for “a protest against Italian inaction” because he certainly has no intention of stopping: “That’s how it went, but we’re not giving up. I’ll get Ilaria out, there’s no doubt” . The Budapest government responds to ministers and family members.
‘Hungary is a state of law – says the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – and the government does not interfere in any way in the competences of the judiciary.”
Supporting and sharing Ilaria’s father’s state of mind are the opposition parliamentarians with the Italian ambassador to Budapest Manuel Jacoangeli, while the secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein speaks of an “inadmissible slap” against which an appeal will be lodged, so as a complaint will probably be presented to the European Court of Human Rights. But while in Milan Gabriele Marchesi rejoices and is freed for the same crimes, in Budapest there is little hope that things will change: in the next hearing on May 24, Ilaria Salis will still have handcuffs on her wrists and chains on her ankles.
ANSA Agency Schlein: “Meloni react immediately.” The political reactions to the Salis case – News – Ansa.it “Ilaria Salis will remain in prison in Budapest. After being brought to the Chamber once again with chains on her wrists, ankles and a leash, today the Hungarian judges also decided to deny her house arrest. (ANSA) In a handwritten letter, Ilaria Salis authorizes the Italian press to publish photos depicting her in handcuffs.
Photo story Ilaria Salis’ letter: ‘I authorize the publication of my photos in handcuffs’ – Primopiano – Ansa.it
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