Richard Gere and Matteo Salvini clash over migrants
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Hollywood star Richard Gere has called upon the Italian government to assist migrants who have been stranded on a Spanish charity boat in the Mediterranean for more than a week.
The Italian government needed to stop “demonizing people”, the actor said.
Gere, who visited the Open Arms ship in a show of support on Friday, joined a news conference on the Italian island of Lampedusa to call for the 160 migrants stuck on the boat to be allowed to disembark.
US actor Richard Gere (R) speaks during a press conference on the island of Lampedusa, Southern Italy, a day after he visited the Spanish humanitarian ship that has been stuck at sea with 121 migrants on board for over a week, after Italy and Malta have denied it entry. The Open Arms boat has rescued 39 more migrants in the morning on 10 August. EPA-EFE/ELIO DESIDERIO
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was quick to hit back, saying Gere should take the 160 migrants to Hollywood.
He made comparisons between Salvini, who is also interior minister and has made repeated efforts to block migrant ships from docking in Italy, and US President Donald Trump, who has faced widespread criticism for his immigration policies.
The Open Arms said it had rescued more people on Saturday.
The boat was at sea near Lampedusa with 121 people aboard from earlier rescues when, late on Friday evening, Maltese authorities asked it to assist 39 people in a wooden raft.
Malta had offered to accept the 39 people from this rescue but not the 121 already aboard, among them 32 minors, they added, saying the NGO had refused the offer.
