Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly
Schlein on Thursday called on Premier Giorgia Meloni to
intervene in the case of Ilaria Salis after a Budapest court
rejected a petition for house arrest from the Italian teacher
accused of involvement in an attack on far-right activists.
"Ilaria Salis will remain in prison in Budapest," said the
leader of the opposition, centre-left group.
"After once again being brought into the courtroom with chains
on her wrists and ankles and on a leash, today the Hungarian
judges also decided to deny her house arrest.
"It is an unacceptable slap in the face of the rights of a
inmate and of one of our compatriots.
"We expect Giorgia Meloni's government to react immediately".
Meloni has friendly relations with Hungarian Prime Minister
Viktor Orban.
Salis's father said Meloni's government should "examine its
conscience" in the light of Thursday's events.
"It's not a good look for our ministers," said Roberto Salis.
"The chains do not depend on the judge, but on the prison
system, and, therefore, on the executive.
"The Italian government can and must do something so that my
daughter is not treated like a dog".
Former industry minister Carlo Calenda, the leader of the
centrist, opposition Azione party, called on the European Union
to get involved.
"It is unheard of that an Italian citizen is treated in this way
in an EU member country," Calenda said via Twitter.
"The government, which has failed to make its case via bilateral
relations, should immediately request the intervention of the
European Commission," he said via X. "Funds to Hungary should be
stopped now".
Lucio Malan, the Senate whip for Meloni's right-wing Brothers of
Italy (FdI) party, said the government was doing what it can for
Salis.
"The decision to deny house arrest is a procedural issue," Malan
said.
"As for the treatment of the accused, we don't like it and were
are are against this type of treatment.
"Even in Italy the accused often used to arrive, and sometimes
still arrive, not in that way, but they are put inside a cage,
which is not great for human dignity.
"Whether she is guilty or not is another issue, which is why the
trial is held.
"But the government has taken action to obtain treatment that
respects human rights".
(see related stories).
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