PULSE POINTS
WHAT HAPPENED: An Italian judge downgraded sexual assault charges against a 29-year-old migrant who impregnated a 10-year-old girl, sparking widespread outrage.
WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 29-year-old Bangladeshi migrant, a 10-year-old girl, and Italian politicians.
WHEN & WHERE: The abuse occurred in the summer of 2024 at the Hotel Il Cacciatore migrant centre in Collio, Lombardy, Italy.
KEY QUOTE: “The mere five-year sentence handed down to a person responsible for the atrocious and unspeakable violence against a child leaves me stunned.” – Simona Bordonali, a lawmaker from the League (Lega) party that forms part of Italy’s ruling coalition.
IMPACT: The reduced sentence has provoked anger among Italian politicians and citizens, questioning the proportionality of justice in cases involving minors.
IN FULL
A court ruling in Italy has ignited widespread backlash after a judge downgraded charges against a 29-year-old Bangladeshi migrant who impregnated a 10-year-old girl at a migrant reception center. The abuse took place in the summer of 2024 at the Hotel Il Cacciatore in Collio, Lombardy, a facility housing roughly 20 asylum seekers.
The child, originally from sub-Saharan Africa, was taken to hospital after her mother noticed troubling changes in her behavior and complained of abdominal pain. Medical tests revealed the girl was pregnant, and she later underwent an abortion.
Prosecutors initially charged the perpetrator with aggravated sexual assault against a minor. However, the judge reclassified the offense as sexual acts with a child, a lesser charge under Italian law, as he claimed to be in a relationship with the child. Combined with a fast-track trial procedure that automatically reduced the penalty by one-third, the decision resulted in a meager five-year prison sentence.
During proceedings, the migrant’s lawyers argued there was no violence, a position that played a role in the court’s dubious decision to downgrade the charges. The court’s formal reasoning is expected to be filed within 90 days.
The ruling has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from the League (Lega) party, which is a junior partner of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) party in Italty’s ruling coalition. League lawmaker Simona Bordonali said, “The mere five-year sentence handed down to a person responsible for the atrocious and unspeakable violence against a child leaves me stunned.” She called for changes to sentencing laws to ensure punishments reflect the gravity of crimes against minors.
League leader Matteo Salvini also condemned the decision, calling it “appalling” and “unacceptable.”
The case has reignited Italy’s broader debate over migration, crime, and public safety. Prime Minister Meloni has repeatedly argued that failures in border enforcement can have serious social consequences. However, while her government has reported sharp declines in illegal arrivals following an initial increase early in her term, it has also expanded legal migration channels to address supposed labor shortages, drawing criticism from immigration skeptics.
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