Italy: Alleged Brains Behind October 17 Riots Appears in Court

Italian police and prosecutors in Milan have charged 30-year-old Youssef Siher, a second-generation Italian of Moroccan origin, with orchestrating and inciting riots that shook Milan on October 17, similar to those that hit French cities the same day. Siher is considered the creator of an Instagram site, called the Movimento 17 Ottobre (October 17 Movement) which is alleged to have played a major role in inciting disturbances on October 17, largely in furtherance of the pro-Palestinian cause.

The below article from Il Giornale is translated by Fousesquawk.

Youssef Siher goes silent: The creator behind “the October 17 Movement” does not respond to the investigating judge

Today, the hearing to validate the arrest. Judge Tiziana Landoni must decide by tomorrow whether to keep him behind bars, as requested by the prosecution, or apply a less severe measure like house arrest or a mandatory signature.

Youssef Siher remained silent. The 30-year-old researcher and pro-Palestinian activist, considered the creator of the “October 17 Movement” Instagram page, exercised his right not to respond before the judge of instruction during the hearing to validate the arrest. Judge Tiziana Landoni will have to decide by tomorrow whether to keep him behind bars, as requested by the prosecutor, or apply a less severe measure like house arrest or a mandatory signature. At the end of the hearing, his attorneys, Yasmina Abu Sharar and Benedetto Ciccarone, responded to questions from journalists. They did not explain the motivations at the base of their actions because, “he will tell them”. Instead, they entered, they explained, into the realm of answers from the legal point of view. In particular, they defined as “absurd,” the accusation of terrorism. “He has only expressed his constitutional freedom,” the (female) lawyer said. In addition: “He has not done anything. There has been no instigation to violence, no terrorism, no crime, and in the hearing, we have responded to the charges from the legal point of view.”

Attorney Sharar responded to questions about Siher’s wife, a 32-year-old cultural mediator, under investigation for the same crimes. “She has the right to privacy, she is not charged with anything and is free. She is very upset by the behavior of the press.” In addition: “Whether what they are charging him with is attributable to him is yet to be seen. He has exercised his right not to respond.” The lawyers continued to explain: “We believe there are no serious indications of guilt, nor exigent precautions, and we contested these profiles during the half-hour hearing,” the lawyers explained. 

The charges are instigation to commit crimes aggravated by terrorism and violence during marches.  For prosecutor Francesca Crupi and Deputy Prosecutor Marcello Viola, Siher could flee thanks to his network of contacts, his cultural background, or (could) repeat the same crimes. 

In his posts, disseminated to users, he reportedly reached about 40,000 on his social media and 9,000 on his Telegram page, calling on them to new protests the following weekend. In particular, he reportedly reached thousands of people on chats with violent purposes, according to the magistrates. And he reportedly continued to create agitation in these groups with unpredictable consequences.

It was his last post, in particular, on Friday, October 23, indicating a change in strategy; In cancelling previous appointments and calling on his followers to remain “fluid” while awaiting new signs that would arrive shortly before the demonstrations, he proclaimed himself leader of the group. According to investigators, Siher, is allegedly an agitator capable of putting in place a “revolutionary strategy” to the point of realizing a “clear subversive design”. With his statements and his social strategies, he allegedly incited thousands of (social media) users who were following him on his Instagram page, “17 October Movement” and his Telegram chat, the majority of whom had a propensity to “put into action criminal conduct against public order.” He also allegedly offered logistical and organized support for concentrating communication and management of the network of various violent groups, a conduct that guaranteed continuous support to violent demonstrators and undoubtedly strengthened their criminal intentions.” 

A second-generation Italian, freelance journalist, (with) contacts in the world of social centers, emerging figure in the Palestinian-Italian Youth, founder of the Milanese association, Nascent Sunrise, considered close to the practice of the Muslim Brotherhood, and considered by the public prosecutor a “top figure of the movement.” It is precisely because of his “elevated cultural background and his relational contacts which would allow him to take refuge abroad,” that it is feared he would flee.

Also in progress in the last hours are investigations on the part of Digos (National Police Special Investigations) as to possible links to those under investigation in the case of the Dda (Mafia/anti-Terrorism Prosecutor) of Genoa as to alleged finances of Hamas. Siher has never been directly involved, but the wiretaps in the case that led to the arrest of the activist and arrest of Api (Association of Palestinians in Italy) president Mohammad Hannoun will be analyzed.  In the indictment, the investigators focus on the “terrorist” aim of his actions. Siher allegedly incited online the commission of new acts of violence such as those of last weekend. The messages disseminated on his webpage, “if on the one hand, instigate the commission of crimes against public order, at the same time, convey a message of strongly symbolic content”.  It was a “declaration of a continuing war aimed at instilling profound fear in the population and destabilizing the ordinary course of civil life.”  

The prosecutors also explain that the cut-off of communications at meeting places. which were reportedly indicated only in the run-up to demonstrations could be a tactic with different aims: “To elude defensive deployments by law enforcement”, “foment violent outbursts by troublemakers”, and “instill fear in the population in the context of finding oneself in a real urban belligerence”.