The Sicily of the Middle East

Yet another arrest of an Italian politician involves Lebanon. Last week, Italian authorities arrested former minister Claudio Scajola on charges of helping Sicilian MP Amedeo Matacena escape to the Middle East after he was convicted for aiding the mafia. Matacena, also a member of former premier Silvio Berlusconi’s political party, is now free after being arrested in Dubai, although he is banned from leaving the Emirates. According to Italian police investigations, Scajola has since been allegedly trying to help Matacena reach Beirut through a network of political connections in Lebanon. For the second time in just a few weeks, former Lebanese president Amine Gemayel’s name appears in the police investigation. Italy’s anti-mafia police found a letter to Scajola from a sender they believe to be Amine Gemayel. The letter reassures Scajola, saying that the person he is trying to help — thought to be Matacena — will be able to