Friends of murdered Italian activist 'devastated'

[Jefferson23]

Jonathan Fein

Published: 04.15.11, 14:47



Vittorio Arrigoni's friends say will continue to spread his message, advocate for Palestinian human rights.

Salafi group al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad withdraws statement in which it claimed responsibility for activist's abduction, murder.




The family and friends of the Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni, who was murdered by a radical Islamist group in Gaza early Friday, are devastated by his death, one of his friends told AFP.


"The people who were close to him, as I was, are devastated and consumed by pain," Maria Elena Delia said by telephone in Italy.


Delia said rallies and gatherings were planned in Milan, Turin, Rome and Genoa on Friday, including a reading from Arrigoni's book "Gaza, Stay Human" in Turin in the evening.



The 36-year-old Arrigoni, who hailed from Besana Brianza near Milan, had been living in Gaza for much of the past three years, working as an activist for the International Solidarity Movement and as a journalist and writer.

There he wrote an eyewitness account of the Israeli 22-day offensive against the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, known as Operation "Cast Lead."


"We want to keep attention on the issues Vittorio defended, such as Palestinians' human rights. We will continue to spread his message," Delia said.


in full: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4057332,00.html