An Italian court decided on Friday to put Moroccan senator Yahya Yahya under house arrest pending his appeal trial, Morroco's official MAP news agency reported.
Yahya, member of the House of Advisors (upper house), was arrested on Aug. 4 in Rome for allegedly disturbing public order, and sentenced in a summary judgement to a prison term of two and a half years.
He was forbidden from contacting the Moroccan diplomatic representation for over two weeks until Aug. 21.
Moroccan authorities were informed on Aug. 5 when the summary trial has already taken place, lawyer of the Moroccan embassy in Rome Domenico Naccari said on Thursday, protesting the move.
Yahya's status as senator should have been recognized, and the concerned authorities should have been informed, the lawyer said, noting that "the case contains contradictory elements that we are studying in order to point out in the appeal, which will not take place in the present time."
Quoted by MAP, Yahya's brother Abdelaziz said the court denied the defendant his most basic rights, such as being provided with an interpreter, as the accused does not speak or understand Italian.
In response to the arrest and trial, Morocco recalled on Tuesday its ambassador in Rome Tajeddine Baddou to provide the national authorities with the necessary information and assessment on the grounds, circumstances and development of this issue of concern, according to a statement of the Foreign Ministry.
Source: Xinhua
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