Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reacted sharply to the decision of the Rome Court of Appeal regarding the case of 39-year-old Moroccan citizen, Fathalla Ouardi, who according to her has a criminal history that includes drug trafficking, sexual violence and gang rape.
This Moroccan citizen was transferred on February 17 from Potenza to the repatriation center in Gjadra with the aim of deportation to Morocco. However, according to Meloni, the Rome Court of Appeal did not confirm his detention after the Moroccan asylum seeker filed an application for international protection.
"A person who entered Italy illegally, involved in drug trafficking and gang rape, according to the decision of the magistrates should not have been sent to Albania nor repatriated. In this way, the safety of citizens is called into question. What trust can a woman who has suffered gang rape have in the system if her attacker cannot be deported? " said Giorgia Meloni.
In her interview with RTL radio, Prime Minister Meloni expressed her determination that the center established in Gjadra will function fully, with the support of the EU, despite the fact that, according to her, the magistrates may invent other excuses.
"The European Union has helped us with the European list of safe countries, which was the main issue raised by Italian magistrates to block the operation of these centers. The government is determined to pursue a stricter policy against irregular migration, also through new instruments such as centers outside Italian territory. The project for migrant centers in Albania will continue ," said Meloni.
Meloni also spoke about the reform of Italian justice:
"Reforming the justice system is essential to making this a modern nation. If we don't get it right this time, we won't get another chance."
The Prime Minister also mentioned the case of Florence, where a woman was raped by two immigrants, calling on feminists not to remain silent.
At the end of last month, eighty foreigners held in repatriation centers in Italy were transferred to camps set up in Albania on two charter flights, as part of the protocol signed by Rome and Tirana for the management of migratory flows.
According to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, during the transfer to Albania, the asylum seekers were accompanied by around 100 police officers.