Prosecutors have requested the sentence over the 2019 incident, in which a vessel carrying more than 100 migrants was stranded at sea for 19 days.
Prosecutors have asked judges to jail Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini over his 2019 decision to stop a ship carrying more than 100 migrants from landing in the country.
Prosecutors in the city of Palermo have requested a six-year sentence for alleged kidnapping over the incident, which happened when Mr Salvini was interior minister.
The vessel, operated by the charity Open Arms, was stranded in the Mediterranean Sea for 19 days due to his refusal, with some passengers throwing themselves into the sea in desperation amid an “extreme humanitarian emergency” on board.
The remaining 89 people on the vessel were eventually allowed to disembark in Lampedusa following a court battle.
Mr Salvini, the leader of Italy’s right-wing League party, could be banned from holding government office if he is convicted.
His lawyers will present his defence case in mid-October and he could receive his first sentence weeks later.
However, a conviction in Italy applies only at the end of a three-stage judicial process and a senior judge will make the final decision.
Mr Salvini has denied any wrongdoing.