749 Algerians Detained in Italy, Antigone NGO Reveals

As many as 749 Algerian nationals are detained in Italian prisons, until 30 September 2011, according to figures revealed by the local Antigone NGO, which defends the rights of prisoners in Italy.

Representative of Antigone in the city of Torino Alessio Scandurra told Echorouk reporter that the number of Algerian nationals being detained in Italy, without counting illegal migrants who are not condemned yet by Justice, has dropped comparing to the last few years.

Mr Scandurra said in 2002 there were 1441 Algerian prisoners in Italy, but thenumber dropped down to 749 prisoners in September 2011.

There is no woman among the detainees contrary to the past years, said the activist.  

Algerian prisoners in Italy represent 3.1 percent of the 25000 foreigners detained there, of which 4934 (20.2 percent) are Moroccans, and 3197 (13.1 percent) Tunisians, the figures show.

The majority of Algerians detained in Italy face charges related to terrorism, narcotic trafficking and robbery.

Yet, the Italian government tends to extradite foreign prisoners to their country of origin, including Algeria, the activist said.

Talks have already been launched with these countries to seal with them bilateral extradition agreements, according to which the extradited prisoners should fulfill their sentences in their country of origins.

In this regard, Mr Scandurra explained that the growing number of foreign prisoners in Italy is, financially, weighing heavily on the shoulder of the government, noting that the existing 208 penitentiary institutions cannot contain local and foreign prisoners.