Italian Activist Ilaria Salis Freed After MEP Election

Ilaria Salis, an Italian anti-fascist activist, was released from house arrest in Budapest after being elected to the European Parliament. Salis had been detained in Hungary for allegedly participating in assaults by an anti-fascist group. Her case garnered significant attention, highlighting political tensions between Italy and Hungary.

Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis was released from house arrest in Budapest after she was elected a member of the European Parliament at the weekend, her lawyer Gyorgy Magyar told Reuters on Friday.

Members of the European Parliament enjoy strong legal immunity from prosecution, even if the allegations relate to offences committed before their election. The 39-year-old teacher was charged in Hungary with taking part in an anti-fascist group's assaults on people they viewed as far-right activists.

Police have already removed the electronic bracelet from Salis's ankle, the lawyer said. Salis's father was expected to arrive in Budapest later in the day to take her back to Italy, Magyar added. Salis has been held in Hungary for more than a year in a case that prompted the Italian Green and Left Alliance to nominate her among their candidates at the European ballot.

Her case drew outrage in Italy in February, after she was led into a court hearing with her feet and hands bound and a chain around her waist. The issue is politically sensitive due to the longstanding ties between Italy's right-wing prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and her Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban.

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