According to Carola Rackete: prosecution investigates against Salvini

Following a complaint by Sea Watch captain Carola Rackete, the prosecution has taken preliminary investigations against former Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. In her lawsuit, the refugee helper accused Salvini, the leader of the right-wing lega, of causing serious defamation and incitement to a crime.

Court of jurisdiction is Rackete's lawyer Alessandro Gamberini according to Milan, the residence Salvinis. It could take several months for a decision to be made on the opening of a case.

Rackete welcomes the decision

Rackete welcomed the decision. "I think the decision is good and it shows that the Italian judiciary works independently," she told SPIEGEL. "It is important for me to position myself clearly against hate speech, Salvini's words fuel racism, they have real implications for refugees and migrants."

At the end of June, the German captain had illegally driven the rescue ship "Sea-Watch 3" of the German aid organization Sea-Watch with migrants aboard the port of Lampedusa. Against rackete is determined in Italy among other things because of assistance to the illegal immigration. She accuses Salvini of slandering people in social media with hatred.

The right-wing politician was Italian interior minister until this week and had largely closed his country's ports for ships with refugees. On Facebook, Salvini described the ad as a "medal" and called racquet once again a "German Communist". "I will never give in," said Salvini, whose party no longer belongs to the new Italian government.