The story of the young Italian who died fighting the Islamic State in Syria and his moving final message

"If you see this message, it's probably because something has gone wrong." Lorenzo Orsetti he knew the risks he was facing when he enlisted in the Kurdish ranks to fight against the Islamic State. But that did not stop him. "I'm happy with my choice, if I could, I would do it again", He stated in a video testament that he had recorded in case of death in combat.

Lorenzo was 33 years old and the news of his death in Syria spread on Monday. He had arrived in the country a year and a half ago to fight terrorism with Popular protection units (YPG, for its acronym in Kurdish) in the RojavaSyrian Kurdistan. According to his companions, he would have died during clashes during the reconquest of Baghouz, the last bastion of the terrorist group. Four other YPG fighters died with him.. He died a few hours before the fall of Baghouz.

"I came here willingly", says in the film, released Tuesday by YPG. And that explains: "I am here for many reasons: mainly because I believe in freedom."

In the video, Lorenzo smiles. "Many of us smile in these videos. You do not think it will really spread. But that smile means something else: it's the way you face the battle with a smile, "he explains. Infobae Claudio Locatelli, another Italian who fought jihadists at the Battle of Raqqa and who was a friend and companion of Orsetti.

"He was a sunny, cheerful person, always smiling, even in the most difficult moments," adds Paolo Andolina, another veteran and friend of Lorenzo, in an interview for WhatsApp.

Both highlight a feature common to all foreign fighters who chose to fight ISIS, a phenomenon that some compare to what happened during the Civil war Spanish "They left their community and their homes to do what was right beyond their political ideas"says Locatelli." Lorenzo was very shocked by the Kurdish resistance in Kobane, "explains Andolina," and his libertarian ideas took him to this territory. "

"Their fight was against badism, discrimination, intolerance," they say.

The words of the friends are similar to those of Lorenzo's father, Alessandro Orsetti. "My son could not stand the indifference "he told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera The man tried to dissuade him. "In addition to explaining that he was heading for something very dangerous, that it was not a game, I told him that there was also a lot of important struggles to be done here in Italy ", he said. However, he and his wife said that they were "proud". "Our son decided to face an important and fair fight, even though at the same time we knew that it was very dangerous."

After the initial uncertainty, the parents were able to recover the body, which will be buried in Florence. In the city, there will also be a demonstration in his honor. A few months ago, the local headquarters of ANPI, the Italian supporters' badociation, named him honorary partner for his fight against the "fascism" of the state Islamic.

"Do not be sad, I'm fine, I do not regret it"Assured Lorenzo in another will – a letter – that extended after his death and moved Italy. "I died doing what I thought was right, defending the weak and faithful to my ideals of justice, equality and freedom."

"Despite my untimely death, my life was a success and I'm pretty sure I left with a smile, I could not have asked for anything better", he added.

Before going to Syria, Lorenzo had worked for thirteen years as waiter, sommelier and cook. "He was used to serving others and helping others. I remember once, when we were in Iraq, with a few ingredients we had, he could prepare a meal worthy of the best restaurant, "recalls Locatelli.

But it was not just practical. "The first feeling I had when I met him was his great lucidity. I was very aware of the Syrian reality and what it means in the world ", badures

"That the cause we are fighting for is not just Syria, but the whole world. We mourn the victims of Bataclan, London, Barcelona, ​​Brussels and Berlin. But the price has been paid by anti-ISIS Muslims and international fighters like us. Lorenzo is the 45th international martyr, "says Locatelli, who explains that eight of his friends from different countries have died in Syria, among them an Argentine doctor, Alina Sanchez.

In the eyes of justice

Lorenzo, like most of his comrades, criticized the lack of interest of the West for the Kurdish cause. "When he was fighting in Afrin against extremist groups, no one was interested"said Locatelli.

Talso denounce that, although the country is now moved by the history of Orsatti, the Italian justice persecutes the veterans for their alleged "social dangerousness".

Five of them, including Andolina, are waiting for an audience to decide on the "special surveillance" precautionary measures on March 25 in Turin.

"They are heroes and they treat them, but when they die, they all want to dominate them"angrily summed up Annalisa, Lorenzo's mother.

There remains, however, a fundamental question: why does a Western man choose to risk his life for something as abstract as the good of the world? Idealists, dreamers, adventurers? Naive and unconscious? Or maybe a mix of all this?

"It's a practical idealism," said Locatelli. "Because eventually we defeated ISIS. "

"Everyone goes for different reasons," explains Andolina. "Some fight against the Islamic State, others defend the people and others, like Lorenzo to be part of a revolution, he really believed in these ideals".

Lorenzo, on the other hand, in his letter decided to answer these questions: "I wish you all the best possible and hope that someday (if you have not done so yet), you decide to give your life for your neighbor because it is the only way to change the world, only defeating the individualism and selfishness of each of you, we can make a difference, I know that times are tough, but do not give in to resignation, do not lose hope, never, not even a moment, even when everything seems lost and the evils that afflict man and the earth They seem insurmountable, try to find strength and infuse it to your companions, it's precisely in the darkest moments that your light serves you, and always remember that "every storm begins with a single fall", try to be that drop ".