Medel spied

"We have learned through a Resolution passed on July 4th, 2007, by the Italian High Council of the Judiciary (Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura) that the Association MEDEL – Magistrats européens pour la démocratie et les libertés - and many of the Judges and Prosecutors who take part in its activity, have been the object of undue intelligence and espionage activities on part of the Italian Intelligence and Military Security Service (SISMI).

This ingerence has manifested itself through illegal access to our mailing list, which is used by members solely for the purpose of discussing the activity of the Association, as well as through the drafting of slanderous and fraudulent reports concerning purported covert political activities of the Association and its members.

As President of MEDEL I object in the strongest possible terms to the use, on part of an intelligence service, of methods which have nothing to do with democracy and the legitimate exercise of our freedom of association.

MEDEL, Association of European Judges and Prosecutors, through its cultural activities and its close working relations with International organizations such as the European Commission, the Council of Europe, European associations of Lawyers, and associations of Judges and Prosecutors from Africa and Latin America, has in the past and will continue in the future to do nothing more than pursue its aim to contribute in strengthening the independence of Justice and the protection of fundamental rights.

In the light of what has emerged, we will take in the next future all appropriate measures to protect our autonomy and credibility .

MEDEL – Magistrats européens pour la démocratie et les libertés

The President

Miguel Carmona Ruano"


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CCJE letter