The below article in today's Corriere della Sera (Bologna) is translated by Fousesquawk.
Saman, the start of the trial of the relatives: The uncle and the cousins in the courtroom. The fiance and associations (are) civil parties
By Margherita Grassi
At the Reggio Emilia courthouse,"Not One Less" (Women's association) for the 18-year-old Pakistani. The father, not yet extradited, will have a separate hearing. The lawyer for the fiance: "With the compensation, a foundation to help other girls".
Caption: Saman Abbas, the uncle in the courtroom
Associations and activists present outside the tribunal of Reggio Emilia from early morning to act as "shield" for the memory of Saman Abbas, murdered at Novellara on the night of April 30-May 1, 2021.
The trial against the relatives of Saman Abbas
The trial of the 5 relatives of the girl who refused an arranged marriage is beginning in the criminal court. The uncle, Danish Hasnain, the cousins, Ikram Ijaz and Numanhulaq Numanhulaq, the father, Shabbar Abbas, and the mother, Nazia Shaheen, accused of complicity in murder. The parents are in Pakistan. Abbas is in custody, the mother is still a fugitive, and it is probable that today, the defense lawyers will ask for her removal (from the trial). Outside the courthouse are banners and posters.
Women's associations outside the Reggio Emilia Tribunal
"Saman in our heart and in the struggles," reads a banner of "Not One Less". Others sing chants asking for justice for the young girl, whose body was found in a cottage near their home in the middle of last November. She had been searched for in vain for a year and a half. Various associations will take part (in the trial) civilly, among these already established, Penelope (which cares for relatives and friends of missing persons) and Ucoii, Union of Italian Islamic Communities.
15 associations ask to be part of civil portion
The Criminal Court of Reggio Emilia has temporarily separated the position of Shabbar Abbas from the murder trial of his daughter, Saman. A postponement to February 17 has been ordered to evaluate the possibility of a video conference hookup with Pakistan, where he is presently in custody. After that, the proceeding will probably be reunited once more with the other four family members charged. The judges (and) Chief Judge Cristina Beretti, have also ordered a postponement to give the defense the possibility of responding to the actions of the civil parties, filed by some 15 associations, and other entities.
Lawyrer for the fiance: With the compensation, a foundation to help other girls"
"If he were here today, Saqib would say: 'Money does not interest me at all, I want justice". That is what was said by the lawyer, Claudio Falletti, who is representing Saman's fiance in the trial beginning today in front of the Criminal Court of Reggio Emilia. "Taking part is not just compensation for damages, but supporting the prosecution and other civil parties. We must all together bring justice, not only for Saman, but for all the other girls who are victims of these criminals. If we should receive compensation, Saqib will create a foundation in Saman's name that helps all the other girls," he adds.
Prosecutor wants to try Shabbar via video conference
The goal is to try Shabbar Abbas via video conference. Or at least find a way to avoid the position of Saman's father remaining suspended, frozen awaiting the outcome of the extradition procedure, which could be rather long. In this sense, the request of the prosecutor's office of Reggio Emila, led by Prosecutor Gaetano Calogero Paci, has been directed this morning to the criminal court, which will express itself on the matter in the next hearing, 17 February, and in the meantime, has separated (the case on Shabbar Abbas). If the court should accept the prosecutor's request, at that point, the documents would be served on Shabbar in Pakistan and the defendant will have to express his consent or refusal to participate by video. If he gives the OK, the connection will be quickly set up, and he will be reunited with the trial of the other 4 defendants. If he should refuse consent, it will still be possible to try him in absentia. In the meantime, the request to the local magistrate by Shabbar's Pakistani defense for release on bail is pending. In addition, in case Shabbar should be released, it will still be possible to try him in absentia. The position of the father will instead remain "frozen" in case the judges reject the request of the public prosecutor.
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