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Italian judge frees protest suspect, prompting Meloni fury
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- An Italian judge ordered the release of Youssef Siher, a university researcher and journalist accused of inciting violent protests, citing flawed investigation and lack of serious evidence against him.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly condemned the decision, calling it a humiliation for police and investigators, but the Milan court rebuked her remarks as showing a poor understanding of legal institutions.
- Siher was accused of administering a Telegram group linked to violent protests, but the judge found he did not post or support violent messages attributed to other members.
- The case is significant as prosecutors applied a new law introduced by Meloni's government targeting organizers of groups that endanger public safety during demonstrations, with penalties of 4 to 12 years in prison.
- Siher's arrest and media portrayal raised concerns among legal experts and the Italian Bar Association regarding due process and media bias.
