By Malian singer and composer Rokia Traoré may be placed under house arrest in Rome, as Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation is set to rule on the matter on Thursday, August twenty-second. This development comes after two months of incarceration following her arrest on a European warrant issued by Belgium.
Traoré, a renowned figure in world music, was detained on June twentieth in Rome, just one day before her scheduled performance at a music festival at the Colosseum. She has since been held in a women’s prison in Civitavecchia, a port city near the Italian capital.
The arrest stems from a protracted custody dispute with her former partner, Belgian playwright Jan Goossens, over their daughter. In October two thousand twenty-three, a Belgian court sentenced Traoré to two years in prison for failing to present their child to Goossens. Traoré’s actions reportedly followed allegations of sexual abuse against Goossens concerning their daughter, claims which were subsequently dismissed.
Since her arrest, two hearings have taken place in Rome’s Court of Appeal. During a significant hearing on July thirteenth, Traoré’s lawyer, Maddalena Claudia Del Re, argued that there were procedural flaws in the two-year prison sentence handed down last year. The Italian judges have agreed to refer the case to the European Court of Justice, which will determine whether Traoré should be released or extradited to Belgium.
The Court of Cassation’s closed-door session on Thursday will rule on the request for Traoré’s house arrest in Rome, a decision that could substantially improve her living conditions while legal proceedings continue.
Traoré’s case has drawn attention to the complexities of international custody disputes and the application of European arrest warrants. It has also raised questions about the treatment of artists caught in legal battles across borders.
Representatives for Traoré and Goossens have not provided additional comments on the ongoing legal proceedings. The Belgian authorities who issued the original arrest warrant have also not released any statements regarding the latest developments in Italy.
As the legal process unfolds, Traoré’s situation continues to be closely monitored by human rights organizations and the international music community.
