(3 May 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rome - 3 May 2022
1. Sister of Andrea Costa on phone with their mother, hugging supporters on hearing news of his acquittal
2. Defendant Andrea Costa, the President of NGO Baobab Experience, walking out of gate of tribunal, UPSOUND applause
3. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Andrea Costa, Baobab Experience President:
"Difficult months, how can I say, I take this and I will continue to do what we have done, help people in need, help those who have been left behind, no matter what country they come from. I am very satisfied and happy."
4. Women hugging and celebrating
5. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Andrea Costa, Baobab Experience President:
"Solidarity is not a crime. There are still many injustices, many things that are not right, many things that need to be corrected, as far as legislation is concerned, in my opinion. Legislation on immigration, legislation on solidarity towards migrants. Today I think marks a point that is very important, this has to give us the strength to do more to help all those people who are still on trial, who have been criminalized, and above all to help those women and men who continue to arrive via land, via sea, escaping from Ukraine, or in dinghies from Libya, because they are escaping from wars, they are escaping from difficult situations and they need, they have to have, hospitality and solidarity."
6. Costa hugging supporters
7. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Alice Basiglini, Baobab Experience spokesperson:
"We are happy, we are very happy, we are relieved. I think that it was the PM (prosecuting magistrate) that asked for the acquittal, otherwise I don't think it would have ended so quickly. But at this point we have made... We have made it to a sentence, to a trial and this means changing things at their origin in such a way that these things do not happen ever again.  It has been a two-year burden that we have been carrying, that has influenced every aspect of our lives, there was not much to be done about it. Above all for Andrea, he did not deserve this, no one deserves this who dedicates his life, his existence to others."
8. Costa talking to reporters
9. Woman kissing Costa
10. Supporters with signs
11. Close of sign reading (Italian) "Solidarity is not a trial"
12. Supporters with signs
STORYLINE:
An Italian activist who runs a non-profit organization helping migrants and refugees in Italy was cleared of charges of favoring illegal immigration by a court in Rome on Tuesday.
Supporters of Andrea Costa, president of the non-profit organization Baobab Experience, hugged each other and applauded on hearing the news.
"I am very satisfied and happy," Costa said as he emerged from the courthouse. "This has to give us the strength to do more."
Since 2015 Baobab has helped tens of thousands of impoverished migrants who have arrived in Italy, mostly on boats crossing the Mediterranean.  
The organization has provided housing, medical and legal assistance, food, clothing, and language training.
The group has also assisted migrants in getting on trains and buses taking them to Italian towns on the border with France.
The specific charges involved assistance given by Baobab to nine migrants from Sudan and Chad in 2016 by buying bus tickets for them to go to northern Italy.
Costa had risked between six and 18 years in jail.
"It has been a two-year burden that we have been carrying, that has influenced every aspect of our lives," said Alice Basiglini, a spokeswoman for Baobab.
"He did not deserve this, no one deserves this who dedicates his life, his existence to others," she added of Costa.
Clients are reminded:

Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть