Dear Friend,

Matteo Salvini, Italy's former Interior Minister, could face up to 15 years in prison on charges of "kidnapping," because, in his ministerial capacity, he refused to allow migrants to disembark from a ship at a port in Sicily. As Soeren Kern reported this month for Gatestone, "the Court of Ministers in Catania, Sicily, ruled that Salvini should be indicted for 'aggravated kidnapping' for depriving 131 migrants onboard the Gregoretti coastguard ship of their liberty by refusing to allow them to disembark."

Where did you first hear about this disturbing development? Italians were likely aware of them from their national media, but it's a good bet that many thousands of Gatestone readers heard it from us.

Is this case a sign of confluence of the illiberal trend in the West towards criminalizing the opposition to unvetted mass illegal migration, whether by cracking down on freedom of speech or by left-wing judicial establishments prosecuting political leaders with whom they disagree? Gatestone is here to alert you to global trends that might be "coming soon to a theater near you."

Soeren Kern's in-depth analysis on this issue highlights the crucial role Gatestone plays in exposing and analyzing important issues that directly affect you -- which the mainstream media does its best to bury.

The research, analysis, writing, editing and translating that we do at Gatestone come at a cost.

Our writing fellows and correspondents work around the clock to research, analyze and keep you informed about the threats we face today -- and the grave consequences we may face tomorrow.

The urgent work advanced by our experts and authors is only made possible through the support of readers, and members of the Gatestone community, like you.

Please help us by making a US tax-deductible contribution today, to help us sustain and grow Gatestone Institute's community of experts and authors, ensuring that their vital work continues to make a significant impact.

Warmest,

Nina Rosenwald
President, Gatestone Institute

Gatestone Institute
14 East 60 St., Suite 705, New York, NY 10022