The most beautiful moment of this Sunday just passed is contained in that image: a long and deep embrace. The one between a mother and a daughter. But there was no lack of insults and controversies and this causes bitterness. In an Italy that is dealing with a health emergency like the one we are experiencing, and where there should be only hope and solidarity, there is no lack of haters. The facts are these: yesterday at Ciampino airport a flight of the secret services for external security landed in the early afternoon, which brought Silvia Romano back to Italy, the Italian aid worker kidnapped in Kenya.
Her family and her mother are waiting for her. Who had the best gift on Mother's Day. Hugging her daughter again after the long distance. An image that soon made the rounds of the web and that contains the hope of a life that starts again. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio also welcomed her in Ciampino. But there was no lack of controversy, especially on social media. Silvia Romano is now at home and they are moments of joy for her city, but also of investigations into her kidnapping.
Silvia Romano, the controversy over the ransom
Unfortunately, 535 days of imprisonment between Kenya and Somalia were not enough to calm the controversy. As often happens in Italy and in this period of suffering above all, there was no lack of attacks against Silvia Romano, as had already happened over a year ago. From the sexist controversies to those who said that the ransom money, if paid, should be used for the emergency. Or even those who said they could have pledged their solidarity in Italy. Journalist Enrico Mentana left a comment on social media against these attacks. A way to disassociate yourself from those behind a keyboard and often leave room for hateful words. Faced with the news of the release of the XNUMX-year-old who cheered everyone up and gave hope, the controversy becomes just a pretext to discuss. And now it doesn't matter.
Silvia is at home, what do we know about imprisonment and conversion
From hour to hour the investigators try to reconstruct these long months of imprisonment. What struck when he arrived in Ciampino was not only his big smile but also the dress he wore. A typical Islamic robe. In fact, Silvia Romano herself confirmed her conversion to the Islamic religion during the months of her imprisonment. Also of having changed the name to Aisha. "It's true, I converted to Islam: it was my free choice - he explained to the magistrates during his hearing -. It happened in the middle of my captivity, when I asked to be able to read the Koran and I was satisfied".
The conversion then during the captivity in Somalia. A decision after the handing over to the Islamic group Al Shabab by the first Kenyan kidnappers. There would have been no coercion on the part of the kidnappers, he clarified voluntary, “They always treated me with humanity. It is not true that I was forced to marry, I did not have physical constraints or violence ".
Investigations into Silvia Romano and her kidnapping
Listened to by the prosecutor of Rome Sergio Colaiocco and the anti-terrorism officers of the carabinieri, Silvia told what happened to her. "There was no marriage or relationship, only respect" the aid worker also clarified. The kidnapping on November 20, 2018. The aid worker of the non-profit organization Africa Milele was kidnapped in the village of Chakama, about 80 kilometers from Malindi, Kenya.
Silvia told investigators that she was treated with respect. "They assured me that I would not be killed and I did- added -. I moved with more than one jailer to at least four lairs, which were in apartments in the villages. I was frequently and always moved to inhabited places and in the presence of the same jailers. They were armed and with their faces covered, but I was always treated well and I was free to move inside the lairs, which were still guarded.". The operation was probably run by a gang of eight people. Then sold to Islamist groups linked to the Al Shabaab terrorists in Somalia.
And now the party in his Milan
And today the party at the Casoretto, his neighborhood in Milan. The parish priest who rang the church bells for a party was waiting for her friends. They await her at home with applause, banners, posters on the city walls, flash mobs. Many surprises among those who know her. But now no controversy, neither about his conversion, nor about his choice of volunteering. What unites people is only the desire to see them again, to hug them in a virtual festive embrace.
