Richard Gere Wants Asylum Seekers Allowed In Italy; Deputy PM Says Fly Them To Hollywood

Italy’s far-right deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, has clashed with Richard Gere over the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, suggesting the Hollywood star should house himself those stranded on rescue ships after the US actor urged the Italian government to “stop demonising asylum seekers”.

Gere who is currently on the island of Lampedusa, Sicily, after a visit onboard a Spanish NGO ship, Proactiva Open Arms, where he met some of the 160 migrants the vessel rescued in the strait of Sicily. The ship has been stuck for 10 days off Lampedusa due to Italy’s ban on landing migrants.

The 69-year-old actor appeared in a video message urging people to support the charity and the people onboard. “All hands onboard would have been lost,” Gere said in the video.