Brazilian court decides in favor of extradition of Italian activist
Brazilian court decides in favor of extradition of Italian activist
10:03, November 19, 2009 
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Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) decided on Wednesday in favor of the extradition of former Italian activist Cesare Battisti to his home country by a vote of 5-4.
Battisti had been granted refugee status by Brazil's Justice Minister Tarso Genro in January, on the ground of fear of persecution. The decision prompted the Italian government to appeal to the Brazilian courts, and caused some strain in the relations between the two countries.
In Italy, Battisti is considered a terrorist. A former member of the group Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC), he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for four murders that occurred in the 1970s. However, Battisti has always denied all accusations, alleging that he had already left the PAC by the time the murders were committed.
The STF's decision had already been postponed twice, and the tie-break vote was given on Wednesday by STF's president, Judge Gilmar Mendes. According to the judge, certain crimes, no matter their political objectives, cannot be considered political crimes.
It is not known yet whether the court's decision will lead to the direct extradition of Battisti. The final decision on the fate of the Italian may be in the hands of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Last week, the president said he would wait for the court's decision to discuss the matter.
Italy's chancellor Franco Frattini expressed his satisfaction with the Brazilian court's decision, which he said means that the relatives of Battisti's victims have finally gained justice.
In the 1980s, Battisti left Italy for France. He fled to Brazilin 2004 and was arrested in 2007 in Rio.
Source: Xinhua
Battisti had been granted refugee status by Brazil's Justice Minister Tarso Genro in January, on the ground of fear of persecution. The decision prompted the Italian government to appeal to the Brazilian courts, and caused some strain in the relations between the two countries.
In Italy, Battisti is considered a terrorist. A former member of the group Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC), he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for four murders that occurred in the 1970s. However, Battisti has always denied all accusations, alleging that he had already left the PAC by the time the murders were committed.
The STF's decision had already been postponed twice, and the tie-break vote was given on Wednesday by STF's president, Judge Gilmar Mendes. According to the judge, certain crimes, no matter their political objectives, cannot be considered political crimes.
It is not known yet whether the court's decision will lead to the direct extradition of Battisti. The final decision on the fate of the Italian may be in the hands of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Last week, the president said he would wait for the court's decision to discuss the matter.
Italy's chancellor Franco Frattini expressed his satisfaction with the Brazilian court's decision, which he said means that the relatives of Battisti's victims have finally gained justice.
In the 1980s, Battisti left Italy for France. He fled to Brazilin 2004 and was arrested in 2007 in Rio.
Source: Xinhua
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