An Italian reporter arrested on the
Turkey-Syria border April 10 phoned Italy Tuesday to say he was
well but that he would start a hunger strike to demand his
rights be respected tonight.
"I'm well, they haven't touched a hair on my head but I can't
phone, they seized my cellphone and belongings, although they're
not charging me with anything," said Gabriele Del Grande using
the administrative detention centre's landline, saying he was
surrounded by four policemen.
Human rights campaigner Del Grande said he would start a
hunger strike tonight "and I urge everyone to mobilise to demand
my rights be respected".
He said "my documents are in order, but I have not been
allowed to name a lawyer, nor have I been informed when this
detention will end.
"The reason for the arrest is linked to the content of my
work. I have been subjected to questioning in this regard. I
have been able to phone only after days of protests".
There had been no news from the journalist since he was
arrested by Turkish authorities on the Syria border eight days
ago, his family said Monday.
Lucca-born Gabriele Del Grande, a 34-year-old blogger and
human rights activist, was arrested in Hatay Province near the
Syria-Turkey border.
"We can trust all we want but knowing nothing makes us very
anxious," his father told Italian TV.
The last they heard from De Grande, he said, was an SMS to
his wife to say he had been arrested.
"The important thing is that he returns home, he has two
small children and a wife, as well as us," the father said.
"The Turkish authorities have assured he is well but none of
us has been able to get in touch with him yet, and nor has the
(Italian) embassy.
Del Grande is also a documentary maker who has raised
awareness on migrant issues.
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