The justice minister of Italy has declined Argentina’s plea to hand over a priest charged with committing human rights violations during the military regime of the 1970s and 1980s.
Franco Reverberi, aged 86, was a military chaplain during Argentina’s military regime from 1976 to 1983. He is currently facing charges for his involvement in the alleged murder of political activist José Guillermo Berón, who was 20 years old at the time. Additionally, Reverberi is also accused of participating in acts of torture.
Reverberi, who has joint Argentinian and Italian nationality, left Argentina in 2011 after trials against pro-junta figures had begun in Argentina, returning to his home town near Parma. Since then, he has lived undisturbed in Italy, where he continued to celebrate mass until recently. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not been convicted by the courts or excommunicated by the Vatican.
The highest criminal court in Italy upheld his extradition in October, denying the priest’s appeal.
However, on Friday, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio rejected the extradition request, citing Reverberi’s advanced age and poor health as reasons.
According to lawyer Arturo Salerni, who represented Argentina in the case, the decision made by the Italian justice minister goes against previous judicial rulings against Reverberi. Salerni states that their final chance is for Reverberi to face prosecution in Italy.
Jorge Ithurburu, the leader of 24 Marzo, a non-governmental organization in Rome that advocates for the families of those affected by the Argentinian dictatorship, has urged for Reverberi to be prosecuted in Italy.
“The law does not allow for impunity,” he stated. “We have reached out to the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights in San Rafael, Argentina, and they are prepared to file a complaint with Italian officials regarding Reverberi’s offenses. If the priest is not extradited, then he should face prosecution in Italy.”
Following the 1976 overthrow, the military in Argentina systematically eliminated any potential resistance and ultimately killed approximately 30,000 individuals, the majority of whom were unarmed civilians.
While imprisoned, expecting inmates were allowed to survive until they delivered their babies. It is estimated that approximately 500 infants were then given to infertile military couples to be raised as their own. As of now, 133 of these individuals, now in their 40s, have been successfully reunited with their biological relatives.
In 1985, a mere two years after Argentina’s return to democracy, the military junta’s leader Jorge Videla was found guilty of committing human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
A number of the perpetrators involved in those regimes sought refuge in Italy, using their Italian ancestry and dual citizenship to their advantage.
On April 22nd, a separate case will begin in Rome involving Lt Col Carlos Luis Malatto, an Argentinian army officer charged with the premeditated murder of eight individuals during the Videla regime.
The ex-military officer is facing charges of committing human rights violations in Argentina. However, similar to Reverberi, he left the country in 2011 and has been residing peacefully in a tourist town in the province of Messina, Sicily.
Source: theguardian.com
