Rome. "Enough, I feel sick. It hurts. God, why?" These are the heartbreaking words that emerge from a recording made public by Il Fatto Quotidiano, thanks to the collaboration of Pietro Orlandi, Emanuela Orlandi's brother. The voice, which may belong to the young woman who disappeared in 1983, was recognized by her father as that of his daughter, particularly in the desperate plea: "Please, will you let me sleep now?"
The release of this audio rekindles the spotlight on one of the most disturbing mysteries in Italian history, just as investigations into Emanuela's disappearance, which occurred on June 22, 1983, have been reopened. Currently, three prosecutors' offices - the one in Rome, the one in the Vatican, and a bicameral commission of inquiry - are working to shed light on the case.
The recording, dated July 17, 1983, was sent to the ANSA news agency on Via della Dataria, less than a month after the fifteen-year-old's kidnapping. Another tape, presumably from the kidnappers, had been left a few days earlier under the colonnade of St. Peter's and recovered by Vatican officials.
On side A of the tape, male voices make precise requests: the release of Ali Agca, the attacker of John Paul II, in exchange for the life of Emanuela. On the B-side, you can hear the moans of a girl begging for mercy and showing signs of suffering.
At the time, the recording was analyzed by the young woman's father and the Italian secret services (Sismi), who highlighted in their report signs of intensifying torture. This new chapter in the story of Emanuela Orlandi brings to the surface questions that have remained unanswered for over 40 years, relaunching the urgency of shedding light on a wound that has never healed.
Comments (1)
Reading this article I realized that Emanuela Orlandi's situation is really complex. It's sad to think that after so many years a clear truth has not been found. The investigations should be more thorough.