Matteo Salvini objects to Richard Gere as witness in kidnap trial

Italy's far-right former interior minister goes on trial for refusing to let Spanish rescue ship dock in Sicily

The Italian far-right leader, Matteo Salvini, has criticised the approval of a Hollywood star as a witness in his trial on kidnapping charges for blocking the arrival of a migrant rescue ship.

As the trial began on Saturday, the Palermo judge Roberto Murgia said all witnesses submitted by the parties would be allowed to testify, including the actor Richard Gere, who went on board the NGO ship Open Arms in August 2019 in a show of solidarity with the 147 stranded migrants. The next hearing has been set for 17 December.