A warning against studying in Italy

Today an appeal court in Italy ruled against some alleged CIA-against who alleged abducted a person in Italy. The original verdict and the opposition from United States to extradite the so-called agents to Italy to they could face the Italian version of what they call justice, was properly the heaviest factor in the ruling against Amanda Knox. The jurors felt that it was time to send a signal that if the United States did not comply with standard in the justice system they themselves believe nations should commit them to; they would just convict another American.

Let us not forget that the United States had worked hard to demand people extradited from various countries if they believed that these persons were guilty. Denmark did extradite a woman in 2009 and she was exonerated from all charges early 2010.

Now the Amanda Knox case has reached the appeal court and then it is important to observe how the Imam-rapito case did in the appeal courts. A verdict has just been published and it seems that the sentences have been increased.

It is bad news for Amanda Knox as she functions like a hostage until the United States administration will give up the so-called CIA agents and send them to Italy so they can serve out their sentence.

For some time there have been signals from Italy going in the other direction. It is hardly a secret that the case is the mastermind of a prosecutor who has been convicted of abuse of his position - a person who has been convicted to hard time in prison for his actions.

Still with the knowledge about the charges, the government did not suspend him during the case against him. They allowed him to create the case against Amanda Knox based on so-called forensic evidence. Evidence which have been honored in Rome long before the court ruled on it. Amanda Knox was found guilty by the system years before the verdict came in court.

The organization behind the webpage "Exchange Student Information" warns Danish students against studying in Italy and the case above makes this warning easy to understand. Never before has a verdict been influenced so much by international politics.

It leaves small hope for Amanda Knox and her family.

References:
Italy appeals court increases sentences for US defendants in CIA rendition kidnap trial (Sun-Sentinel, Dec. 15, 2010)
Amanda Knox appeals have started (Exchange Student Info, Dec 8, 2010)
Amanda Knox appeal: 'Italians are embarrassed by this case'(The Guardian, Nov. 25, 2010
Amanda Knox prosecutor Giuliano Mignini convicted of ‘abuse of office’(The Time, Jan 23, 2010)
Imam Rapito Affair(Wikipedia)
Amanda Knox Framed: Picture Hung in Italian Police "Hall of Shame" BEFORE She Was Charged With Murder(CBS news, April 15, 2010)

The Amanda Knox case force US to protect their exchange students better

After Amanda Knox, UW tightens rules for study abroad, Seattle PI

There are no question that young adults or teenagers should receive better legal advice and protection so they don't fall victim of a miscarriage of justice like Amanda Knox.

When you are young and naive you are not quiet information about political games going on between your own country and the country you want to study in.

Little could Amanda Knox have known that the Italian government want to have employees of the US state department extradited. Little could she have known about the anger among the Italian population over an accidential shooting of an Italian spy in Iraq or the breach of Italian airspace in connection with the Achille Lauro highjacking. There was simply too much tension so the Italian police could not let her go when they got the chance to arrest her and interview her for so many hours so none could have avoided confessing.

Certain countries should be avioded. Here in Denmark the showtrial against Camilla Broe might never happen as it is too obivious that the charges against her were made only to give the DEA headlines as heros.

However, even her case has resulted in a webpages being created to warn possible Danish citizens from working or studying abroad. It is long overdue. Too many still leave Denmark too young and too naive to make it in a foreign culture where they are exposed of cultural fauna polluting.

Cultural fauna polluting is dangerous. Strange ideas are brought back to Denmark where we now see a huge attack on a vital part of the Danish culture.

We must prepare our youth to remain strong on their values. We don't need another Camilla Broe. Other countries are taking the same approach. May the day come where we can prevent people from living outside their own country.