An Italian priest accused of murder and torture during Argentina’s last military dictatorship is set to be extradited, as confirmed by a lawyer.
Reverend Franco Reverberi, aged 86, departed Argentina in 2011, following the initial trial related to crimes against humanity committed during the dictatorship. As testimonies from survivors and family members began implicating him, suspicions of his alleged involvement emerged.
Reverberi had served as a military chaplain during Argentina’s military dictatorship, spanning from 1976 to 1983.
The charges against the priest in Argentina include complicity in the 1976 murder of a 22-year-old named Jose Guillermo Beron, along with allegations of collaborating with the military to torture several other men. These incidents were purportedly carried out in the town of San Rafael, near Mendoza.
According to Arturo Salerni, who represented Argentina in the case, Italy’s highest criminal court has rejected Reverberi’s appeal and affirmed his extradition. This decision aligns with a prior ruling by a Bologna appeal court and is now considered definitive.
The next step in the process involves Italy’s justice minister, Carlo Nordio, who has 45 days to issue a decree formally requesting Reverberi’s extradition.
“The fight for truth and justice, primarily led by the families of the victims of the dark years of the Argentine dictatorship, has achieved another significant milestone,” remarked Mr. Salerni. “This ruling reaffirms the principle of universal jurisdiction regarding human rights violations.”
Reverberi presently resides in Sorbolo, a small town located in Italy’s northern Emilia-Romagna region, where he was born. He had migrated from Italy to Argentina at the age of about seven.
Human rights activists estimate that as many as 30,000 people lost their lives or disappeared during Argentina’s military dictatorship.
