The tough mafia-style 41 bis prison
regime of jailed anarchist leader Alfredo Cospito should be
lifted, the prosecutor-general (PG) of the supreme Court of
Cassation has recommended ahead of a keenly waited February 24
hearing by the top court on the case of the hunger striking and
ailing anarchist.
The PG, Pietro Gaeta, said last Tuesday that outside links had
to be proven to justify keeping up the 41 bis regime on Cospito,
who has lost some 50 kg on his hunger strike since mid-October
in his bid to have the 41 bis abolished for all inmates
including mafia dons, and who was moved to a Milan hospital from
jail at the weekend.
Gaeta said it was not enough for Cospito to have been the leader
of anarchist groups or to have inspired groups with his
writings, arguing that the real risk of his continuing to pull
the strings from inside prison had to be demonstrated to justify
the 41 bis, which mandates almost complete isolation from the
outside world.
Cospito was moved from Opera Prison to San Paolo Hospital in the
Lombardy capital Saturday after his condition worsened after he
refused to keep taking supplements and was feared to face heart
problems.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio last week rejected the anarchist's
appeal against 41 bis saying he still posed a real societal risk
and would be able to communicate with his cohorts outside the
jail if the regime were eased.
Nordio said Friday Cospito's hunger strike was no longer
non-violent and his ability to lead the armed struggle from
inside prison was unchanged.
Cospito on Friday once more refused to undergo a psychiatric
assessment of whether he is mentally fit in continuing his now
115-day hunger strike.
Anarchists have been staging a wave of arson and vandalism
attacks in support of Cospito, who is serving a total of 30
years in jail, 20 for attacking a Carabinieri barracks and 10
more for kneecapping a nuclear plant manager.
Cospito, 55, was sentenced to four years of 41 bis last May.
Cospito supporters have accused the State of torturing him.
International rights groups have described the 41 bis regime as
inhumane, even for mafia dons.
Italian officials including Premier Giorgia Meloni have said the
State will not negotiate with terrorists and have stressed the
importance of 41 bis in weakening Cosa Nostra.
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