Thursday, July 18, a press conference titled “Woman, Life, Freedom. The case of Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali” was held at the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies to call for the release of the two Iranian women arrested on charges of aiding illegal immigration based on testimonies given immediately after landing in Italy and without the possibility of cross-examination.
Convened by Luigi Manconi, president of A Buon Diritto, and parliamentarians Laura Boldrini, President of the Human Rights Committee of the Chamber, and Marco Grimaldi (Green Left Alliance), the conference – organized to keep attention on the case – also included Riccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International – Italy; Ferdinando Laghi, regional councilor, and Parisa Nazari, activist of the “Woman Life Freedom” movement.
Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali are two young Iranian women who arrived in Italy in 2023. After landing, they were placed in custody on charges of aiding illegal immigration and, specifically, being “smugglers.” Marjan is currently under house arrest, while Maysoon is detained in a prison in Calabria awaiting a fast-track trial scheduled for July 24. Particularly concerning is Maysoon Majidi, 27, who is in a state of severe depression and debilitation, currently weighing 38-40 kg and has been denied a visit from a psychologist she requested.
“Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali were fleeing their country when they landed in Italy. Instead of finding protection, they were accused of a crime – as stipulated by Article 12 of the Consolidated Immigration Act (TUI) – which often targets individuals who have nothing to do with human trafficking,” stated A Buon Diritto Onlus.
The category of “smuggler” is legally contested and problematic: in most cases, those piloting boats are simply migrants in need but are prosecuted as human traffickers.
The charge of aiding illegal immigration against the two women was based on testimonies from individuals who had traveled the final leg of the journey by boat with them, reporting Maysoon’s involvement in distributing food and water onboard; while the accusations against Marjan came from the same men who, according to her account, had attempted to assault her. These witnesses were questioned during the chaotic moments after the landing, but a cross-examination of their statements was impossible as they disappeared shortly after arriving.
During the press conference, a letter from Maysoon Majidi sent from prison to President Sergio Mattarella was read, requesting that her voice be heard and that her detention be converted to provisional release or an alternative form of detention.
The press conference not only called for the release of Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali but also condemned the further tightening of Italian migration policy, reminded that human trafficking is enabled and fueled by the lack of legal and safe entry channels into Italy and Europe, and called for profound changes to current immigration laws and their application, starting with Article 12 of the Consolidated Immigration Act.
Several associations participated in the July 18 press conference, including: A Buon Diritto Onlus, Ero Straniero, Refugees Welcome Italia, Mediterranea Saving Humans, Lunaria, Ciac Onlus, Casa dei diritti sociali odv, RECOSOL, Fondazione Migrantes, Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI), Scalabrinian Agency for Development Cooperation (ASCS), Acli, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Amnesty International Italia, Coltivazione Aps, International Rescue Committee Italia, Black and white ETS Association Castel Volturno, Migrants and GPIC Commission, Comboni Missionaries Italian Province, Cnca, Asgi, Europasilo, SIMM – Italian Society of Migration Medicine.
