Victims and experts in terrorism meet at the URJC

Rosa Marquez of the Order

ETA and the Red Brigades were two of the most active terrorist groups in Europe during the 70s and 80s of the last century. Although they operated in different national contexts, both have a common history of murders and coincide in their extreme left ideology. A summer course analyzes the similarities between both criminal organizations and recovers the historical memory of the victims to prevent the past from repeating itself. “The terrorism of ETA has often been compared to that of the IRA in Northern Ireland because both were nationalist and pro-independence in nature, but there are also similarities with what happened in Italy, a sister country where, in addition to the Red Brigades, also other criminal groups operated,” explains the course director and URJC professor, Matteo Re.

When talking about Italy it is impossible not to refer to the mafia, which is why this topic will also be addressed in the seminar. “The anti-terrorist fight has been transferred to the mafia, since these gangs often also operate as terrorist groups,” highlights Re, for whom it is important to remember the key figures who helped fight Cosa Nostra: “The murders in 1992 of the Judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino shocked society and caused significant changes in the law and strategies against organized crime in Italy.”

Among the invited speakers, Mario Calabresi stands out, journalist and author of the book 'Get out of the night', in which he investigates the events surrounding the murder of his father, a police commissioner, during the years of lead in Italy. The Spanish diplomat Javier Rupérez, who was kidnapped by ETA in 1979, was also ambassador to the United States when the 11/XNUMX attacks occurred, so he will provide the double vision of him as a victim and political expert. Along with them, professors from different universities and representatives of victims' associations from both countries will participate in this seminar.

The course is free and will be held on June 27 and 28 at the Aranjuez headquarters of the Rey Juan Carlos University. It is recognized with 0,6 ECTS credits and 15 scholarships for accommodation and lunch will be made available to participants, which can be requested at the time of registration.