The Turin Court of Appeal has acquitted 18 anarchists who occupied a former roadman’s house in the Susa Valley to shelter migrants attempting to cross into France.
The court ruled that the activists acted “in a state of necessity” under Article 54 of the Italian Penal Code, which exempts individuals from punishment when their actions protect others from imminent danger.
The group took over the derelict house in 2018 to provide refuge for migrants facing life-threatening conditions in the harsh mountain winter. While the lower court acknowledged the illegal occupation, it ruled for acquittal, citing the minor nature of the crime. The Court of Appeal expanded on this, agreeing that the group’s actions were justified by the urgent need to save lives.
Critics argue the occupation facilitated illegal border crossings, violating Italian and European laws. However, the court emphasized the humanitarian nature of the activists’ actions. The ruling sets a precedent that may encourage future occupations under the guise of humanitarian aid, raising concerns about legal impunity for unlawful acts carried out to help migrants. As Il Giornale noted, “The anarchists, in facilitating this transition, committed a crime. Yet the court has now created a precedent for such actions to be acquitted.”
