Category Archives: Prisoner News

Italy: “Renata” operation: Stecco transferred to the prison of Ferrara

We inform that anarchist comrade Luca Dolce, known as Stecco, was transferred from the prison of Tolmezzo (in the province of Udine) to the prison of Ferrara, precisely in the AS2 section (“High Surveillance 2”) where are imprisoned the anarchist comrades recently sentenced in the first instance trial for the “Scripta manent” operation. Stecco has been in prison since February 19, 2019, arrested along with seven other anarchists in the context of the repressive operation called “Renata”.

On May 9, five anarchists imprisoned for this repressive operation were transferred to house arrest: Agnese (who had recently been transferred to the new AS2 section in the prison of L’Aquila), Giulio, Roberto (who were detained in Tolmezzo), Andrea and Nicola (who were detained in Ferrara). Only comrade Luca Dolce (known as “Stecco”) remained in prison due to other final sentences. While another comrade, Sasha, who was also arrested on 19 February and immediately placed under house arrest, had this last “precautionary measure” transformed into an obligation to stay and return home from 9.00 pm to 7.00 am.

We also recall that in the month of March, following a court decision that considered the allegations and aggravating circumstances of “terrorism” to be non-existent, has fallen the accusation of “subversive association with the purpose of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order” (art. 270bis) of which a part of the arrested comrades were initially accused, and the hypothesized crime has become that of “subversive association” (art. 270). The charges relating to specific facts (“interruption of public service”, “damage”, “sabotage of telematic devices”, “fire” and “transport of explosive material”) are unchanged.

The address of Stecco:

Luca Dolce
C. C. di Ferrara
via Arginone 327
44122 Ferrara
Italia [Italy]

insuscettibilediravvedimento.noblogs.org


US: June 11, 2019 statement from Marius Mason

via actforfree

I can hardly believe that it has been another year passing and it is J11 again. I am so thankful for this annual touch point as an opportunity to reach out to my community on the outside and to take stock of the year. It is hard to take in that I have been locked up for more than a decade, and even more sobering to realize how many comrades have been incarcerated for MULTIPLE decades. They have my infinite admiration for maintaining their integrity and for keeping their vision alive through so many years.

I always want to thank all the good folks who do solidarity events to mark this day. I am sure that as I do, all of the anarchist prisoners draw much strength and courage from knowing that you all have our back and have worked so hard to send that immense love across borders and through the bars. There has been way too much hate and “othering” around borders these days. It’s a powerful message to send love instead, and to question the legitimacy of any borders that separate or devalue us as living beings, all equally sharing this planet. Continue reading


Italy: About the sentences in “Scripta Manent” trial and update on comrade Marco Bisesti

About the sentence in “Scripta Manent” trial:

On April 24, the Turin Assise Court issued the first instance sentence for the “Scripta Manent” trial (which followed the repressive operation for which five comrades had been arrested on September 6, 2016, and two others had received notification of pre-trial detention while they were already in prison for the attack against Roberto Adinolfi of May 7, 2012).

Alfredo was sentenced to 20 years, held responsible for the possession and transport of explosives in relation to the bomb in Parco Ducale near the Parma RIS (“scientific investigation department” of Carabinieri) of 24 October 2005 (acquitted of the crime of attack because “crime impossible” because the switch of the bomb was off), of the explosive envelope sent to the then mayor of Bologna Cofferati in 2 November 2005 (convicted of the bombing plus “possession and transportation of explosives”), of attacks with multiple explosive devices at the Carabinieri school of Fossano in June 2, 2006, and in the Crocetta district in Turin in 7 March 2007 (crime of “massacre aggravated by the fact that the goal would have been the police” and acquitted of the aggravating circumstance of political motivation), of sending explosive parcels to the then mayor of Turin (Chiamparino), to the editor of the newspaper “Torino Cronaca” (Giuseppe Fossati) and to COEMA Edilità (company involved in the restructuring of the CIE, “identification and expulsion center” for migrants) in July 2006. He is also indicated as promoter of the FAI (Federazione Anarchica Informale), recognized as a “subversive association with terrorism purposes”. The aggravating circumstance of transnationality has fallen. Continue reading


Greece: Update on the 5th Trial of Revolutionary Struggle

April 22nd, 2019

Received by Mpalothia on 22.04.19:

On 24.04.2019, the 5th trial of Revolutionary Struggle continues, concerning the escape by helicopter attempted by Pola Roupa on 21.02.2016 with the aim of liberating Nikos Maziotis and other prisoners from Korydallos prison.

After the political statement of Pola Roupa and the political witnesses for the defense of the members of Revolutionary Struggle, the trial will be followed by the political statement of Nikos Maziotis and the statements of the other defendants.

Comrades in Solidarity with Revolutionary Struggle


Italy: Operation Scripta Manent Sentences 24/4/2019

via actforfree

Anarchist comrades sentenced

Alfredo Cospito to 20 years,
Anna Beniamino to 17 years,
Nicola Gai to 9 years,
Alessandro Mercogliano and Marco Bisesti to 5 years each.

The other accused were acquitted.

HEALTH IS IN YOU!

croceneranarchica.


Italy: Anarchist comrades detained in the AS2 section of Rebibbia prison were transferred to L’Aquila

April 17th, 2019

The anarchist comrades detained in the AS2 section (“High Security 2”) of the Roma Rebibbia prison were transferred to the prison of L’Aquila. They are Anna (in prison since 6 September 2016 for the “Scripta manent” operation, of which a trial is currently taking place in Turin and which will soon reach the first instance sentence, for which the prosecutor has already done conviction request), Silvia (arrested on 7 February 2019 in the context of the “Scintilla” operation and the eviction of Asilo Occupato in Turin) and Agnese (arrested on 19 February 2019 for the “Renata” operation in Trentino). A women’s AS2 section was established in the prison of L’Aquila. Here are the addresses:

Anna Beniamino
C. C. de L’Aquila
via Amiternina 3
Località Costarelle di Preturo
67100 L’Aquila
Italia (Italy)

Silvia Ruggeri
C. C. de L’Aquila
via Amiternina 3
Località Costarelle di Preturo
67100 L’Aquila
Italia (Italy)

Agnese Trentin
C. C. de L’Aquila
via Amiternina 3
Località Costarelle di Preturo
67100 L’Aquila
Italia (Italy)


Italy: Davide Delogu transferred from Augusta to Rossano Calabro prison

April 17th, 2019

The anarchist Sardinian comrade Davide Delogu was transferred from the Augusta prison (province of Syracuse, in Sicily) to that of Rossano Calabro (province of Cosenza, in Calabria). The address to which letters, telegrams, books, etc., can be sent is as follows:

Davide Delogu
c/o Casa di Reclusione di Rossano Calabro
Strada Statale 106 Jonica n. 32
87067 Corigliano-Rossano (Cosenza)
Italia (Italy)

From 11.03.2019 and during the month of March the comrade was on a hunger strike because the new director of the Augusta prison (Angela Lantieri) who had just arrived had immediately revoked the meeting permit that Davide makes with a Sardinian comrade (the only meeting he can currently do). He had also accompanied the strike with missed returns in the cell varying between 30 and 60 minutes and daily keystrokes in the cell.

Solidarity with anarchist Davide Delogu!


Freedom for Radek! (Netherlands)

via 325

Our friend Radek, has been held in custody, in the Netherlands, for 5 months now. He was charged with attempted arson at the Polish embassy, which carries a sentence of up to 12 years in jail. Radek – just as many other workers on emigration – had dealt with exploitation by the employers, on a daily basis. Exploitation, unfair pay, unpaid overtime, atrocious living conditions – the realities of work in the West. Radek had tried to solve those problems in a less radical matter. He had given a shot by going public with it, informing the media, executing his rights. None of it helped. Eventually, he took a brave step forward. He went to the Polish embassy in The Hague, with a can full of gas and a lighter. He then informed, that he would burn the place and asked for people inside the building to be evacuated. In reality: springs from the lighter were taken out, so as to make sure, that starting a fire wouldn’t be possible.

By drawing attention onto himself, his goal was to make people aware, of what kind of conditions do employment agencies ‘serve’ Polish workers in the Netherlands. He did it in his own name and in the name of everyone, who are just as him – oppressed by this whole machine of exploitation.
We’ll keep you updated with more details about the incident, after we get Radek’s letter, in which he describes his actions and labour conditions in the Netherlands. Continue reading


Interview with Anarchist Comrade Alfredo Cospito (Ferrara Prison- Italy)

via Inferno Urbano and Abolition Media Worldwide

The following text is from the second part of “Which international? Interview and dialogue with Alfredo Cospito from the Ferrara Prison,” part of a debate that some comrades are undertaking with imprisoned anarchist comrade Alfredo Cospito, published in winter 2019 in the anarchist newspaper “Vitriol” in Italian.

Analyzing the history of the movement of the exploited, of the poor, oppressed and proletarians, we see that anarchist ideas are born, nourished and developed in these contexts; on the other hand, most of the anarchists also come from there (of course there are also exceptions). These ideas were born mainly during the birth and growth of industrial capitalism (indicatively from the early 1800s to the 1970s), and up to 40 years ago, the organizations of the exploited and of the workers are mainly mass and the anarchist groups (and the individuals who are part of them) are also the fruit of that historical era. With the advent of capitalist restructuring in the 1980s, followed by a drastic change in the world of work, even anarchist action and organization undergo changes; to the classic organizations of synthesis (or mass), the less rigid structures, based on affinity and informality, are opposed. The new technological restructuring, based mainly on robotics will obviously lead to other drastic changes (mass unemployment) and the new proletarians will probably be employed in moving goods. In this context, in which the impoverishment of the proletarians (and obviously the exploitation of humans, animals and land) and the wealth of the exploiters will increase, does it still make sense to talk about class struggle? Are there still margins to involve – in the struggle for the destruction of this techno-industrial civilization – the exploited, the proletarians, the excluded? Should we try or renew forms of struggle organization? Continue reading


Anarchist prisoner John Bowden denied parole (UK)

On the 22nd January 2019 after almost forty years in prison the Parole Board considered the case for either my release or continued imprisonment. In the case of life sentence or indeterminately sentenced prisoners once such prisoners have been detained for the length of time originally recommended by the judiciary or Secretary of State, in my case 25 years, then the Parole Board has a statuary and legal obligation and responsibility to review the case for either the release or the continued detention of such prisoners. At three previous parole hearings my release had been denied by the Parole Board on the grounds that I was a “difficult and anti-authoritarian” prisoner, and insufficiently obedient to prison authority; my actual risk or danger to the public, the prime official criteria for denying the release of life sentence prisoners, was never cited as a reason for my continued imprisonment.

At my parole hearing on the 22nd January all of the professionals employed to assess the potential risk of prisoners the community, prison psychologists, probation officers, etc., all provided evidence stating that my actual risk to the community was either minimal or non-existent and that I could be ‘safely managed’ outside of prison. My lawyer informed the parole panel that the three chief criteria determining the ‘suitability of release’ of life sentence prisoners [has the prisoner served a sufficient length of time to satisfy the interest of retribution?; does the prisoner represent a minimal risk to the community?; can the prisoner be safely managed in the community?] were all confirmed in my case and therefore there was no real lawful justification for my continued imprisonment, especially as I remained still in prison almost fifteen years beyond the length of time originally recommended by the judiciary. The issues raised by the parole panel were not in fact my potential risk to the community or potential for violent behaviour, all of which had been assessed by the system professionals who gave evidence at the hearing and who unanimously attested that my risk of either violent behaviour or risk to the community was minimal; the main concern of the parole panel was my propensity to challenge prison authority and my association with radical political groups on the outside, specifically Anarchist Black Cross. Representatives from the London Probation Service informed the panel that all of the groups that I was associated with were lawful and none were associated with illegal activity, and in terms of my relationship with the prison system whilst I continued to question and challenge what I perceived as abuses of power, I had not been involved in violent protest actions against the system for over twenty years. Continue reading