Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called a Milan judge’s decision to release Youssef Siher “shameful,” criticizing the ruling after prosecutors accused him of using a Telegram group to encourage demonstrations linked to violent unrest and property destruction.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
ROME — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized a Milan court Wednesday after a judge ordered the release of Youssef Siher, a 30-year-old researcher and freelance journalist accused of encouraging violent protests that damaged businesses in the northern Italian city earlier this month.
Meloni described the decision as “shameful,” accusing the judiciary of undermining law enforcement efforts to protect citizens and businesses following riots and looting during demonstrations on Oct. 17 and 18.
<br>
Siher, an Italian citizen of Moroccan origin, was arrested Oct. 24 on suspicion of incitement to commit crimes for alleged terrorist purposes. Prosecutors accused him of administering a Telegram group called the “October 17 Movement,” which authorities linked to plans for further demonstrations.
However, Milan preliminary investigations Judge Tiziana Landoni declined to validate his arrest or authorize his continued detention, concluding that investigators had failed to establish sufficient evidence connecting Siher to calls for violence.
According to ANSA, Meloni denounced the ruling in a video published Wednesday on her official social media accounts.
“I believe this is an unbearable affront to the work of law enforcement, investigators, the Ministry of the Interior, and, in general, all those who strive to protect law-abiding citizens from the risk of seeing their cities and businesses destroyed,” Meloni said.
“I truly do not know how a normal state can protect law-abiding citizens in the face of such decisions by certain members of the judiciary,” she added.
Meloni maintained that Siher had been managing the Telegram channel responsible for encouraging demonstrations that resulted in widespread damage to commercial properties.
The prime minister argued that releasing the suspect disregarded the efforts of police officers and investigators who had worked to prevent additional unrest.
The demonstrations took place amid anti-government protests over economic conditions and other political grievances. Some gatherings escalated into violent confrontations and property destruction, prompting authorities to investigate organizers and online communications associated with the unrest.
Prosecutors alleged that Siher had administered the October 17 Movement Telegram group and circulated material encouraging participants to gather in Milan on Oct. 24 with the intention of committing public-order offenses.
The investigation relied partly on a new security provision introduced by Meloni’s government that establishes criminal penalties for certain activities involving groups participating in demonstrations that endanger public safety or cause property damage.
The offense can carry prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years.
However, the court found significant deficiencies in the prosecution’s allegations.
According to Reuters, Landoni determined that the messages prosecutors identified as encouraging violence had been written by other members of the Telegram group rather than Siher himself.
“Siher was not found to have encouraged or in any way supported the violent actions advocated by those users,” the judge wrote.
Landoni also rejected prosecutors’ arguments that Siher posed a flight risk or that sufficient grounds existed to justify his detention.
“There are no serious grounds for believing that (Siher) committed the offences with which he has been charged, nor is there a risk of flight,” she stated.
The judge characterized Siher’s own messages as expressions of civil disobedience rather than instructions to commit violence, finding that his statements fell within protected freedom of expression.
Siher has denied wrongdoing.
The ruling prompted criticism from several senior government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who questioned the decision to release a suspect facing serious allegations.
Salvini said prosecutors had presented concerns about possible additional offenses and the potential for Siher to flee.
“It is incredible that an individual has been released,” Salvini said, referring to the allegations involving incitement and terrorism-related intent.
He described the ruling as “shameful, incomprehensible, and absurd,” raising concerns about possible renewed disturbances during demonstrations scheduled for Friday in Milan.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio also expressed surprise at the decision, while acknowledging the judiciary’s constitutional independence.
The government’s response drew objections from judicial organizations and senior Milan court officials, who defended Landoni’s ruling and criticized political attacks on judges.
According to ANSA’s reporting on the judicial response, representatives of the Milan judiciary said the judge had applied established constitutional principles in evaluating the evidence.
They argued that judicial decisions must be based on the legal requirements for arrest and detention rather than political pressure or public expectations.
“Shame belongs to other areas of social life, not to the responsible and difficult exercise of the judiciary,” the court officials said.
The National Association of Magistrates also criticized Meloni’s comments, describing them as inappropriate and warning against efforts to undermine public confidence in the courts.
Meloni subsequently rejected the accusation that she was attacking judicial independence.
In a separate statement reported by ANSA, the prime minister said her criticism was intended to defend police officers and other authorities responsible for preventing further violence.
“I do not view what I said as an attack; I view it as a defense—a defense of the work carried out by all those who serve the State,” Meloni said.
She maintained that the authorities had worked extensively to prevent the violence of Oct. 17 from recurring and that their efforts deserved recognition.
Siher’s arrest and the subsequent publicity surrounding the investigation have also generated concern among Italian legal observers, including members of the country’s bar association.
Critics questioned whether some media coverage had prematurely portrayed Siher as guilty and disclosed unnecessary information about his personal life and family.
Siher was released from Milan’s San Vittore prison Wednesday afternoon. Supporters gathered outside the facility as he departed.
The decision not to validate his arrest does not necessarily end the broader investigation, but prosecutors must satisfy applicable legal requirements to pursue further restrictions on his freedom.
The dispute comes as Meloni’s government continues pursuing stricter public-security policies amid demonstrations and confrontations in several Italian cities.
The case has become a disagreement between the government and judiciary over the legal threshold for detaining suspected organizers of violent protests, the protection of public safety and constitutional guarantees governing freedom of expression.
For now, Siher remains free after the court found insufficient grounds to uphold his arrest, while Meloni and senior government officials continue criticizing the decision.
Original article
Comments