Luigi Giacomo Passeri, a 31-year-old from Pescara, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in Egypt for marijuana possession. Passeri, who has been incarcerated since August of last year, was not present in court for the reading of the sentence on Monday. His lawyer, Said Shabaan, plans to appeal the decision and seek Passeri’s transfer to Italy. Passeri’s family has urged the Italian government to intervene, citing the harsh and degrading conditions of his imprisonment. The Italian Foreign Ministry has stated it is closely monitoring the case.
The case gained public attention in July when Passeri’s brothers highlighted his plight and organized a fundraising campaign to cover legal expenses. A parliamentary inquiry into his situation was also presented by Marco Grimaldi, deputy leader of Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra in the Chamber of Deputies. Despite these efforts, the family has faced challenges in maintaining contact with Passeri, who has reported mistreatment and inadequate medical care following an appendectomy.
Passeri, who lived in London, was arrested in Cairo on August 23rd of the previous year while on vacation. The family claims he was in possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use. However, the Egyptian police documents obtained by the family allege drug possession and trafficking. Passeri is reportedly held in Badr Prison, north of Cairo, with trials delayed due to the absence of prosecution witnesses.
