Since 1981, 150 former Italian Activists have been legally residing in France. Some of them are now being unfairly threatened with extradition to Italy where they would immediately be sent to prison. Sign a petition to let them reside in France!

Around 150 former Italian activists, condemned in Italy for actions linked with the political and social upheaval of the 1970s, have emigrated to France. Since 1981, they have been legally residing there on the promise made by the former French President François Mitterrand. He promised that they would always have safe refuge there so long as they renounced their past political activities, did not go underground, and did not involve themselves in politics. Some of them are now being unfairly threatened with extradition to Italy where they would immediately be sent to prison.

Cesare Battisti, the author of several detective novels, was one such activist and is now facing possible deportation. On Tuesday, February 10, 2004, he was arrested in Paris and detained to await hearing for his extradition to Italy. His counsel immediately appealed for his release. On March 3rd, the court granted a conditional release until his hearing scheduled for May 12, 2004. Since his arrest, he must report to the police weekly and cannot leave Paris nor even enter any airport.

Battisti’s counsel and we are shocked by this situation. He has already been subjected to this same procedure in 1982. The court then decided that the Italian request of extradition would contradict Mitterand’s promise, and Battisti was ultimately allowed to remain in France.

The Italian government has no new evidence against Battisti, so that he has to face a new hearing is both excessive and absurd. This is because France has a law that states that no one shall be tried twice for the same crime without new evidence.

The French government’s decision to allow former Italian activists to reside in France was made in response to emergency legislations adopted by Italy in the 1970s. The crimes committed at this time within the frame of what was considered a “rebellion against the state