Awwal 1432 H. / 15 April 2011, SPA -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the murder of an Italian activist in the Gaza Strip, calling it an “appalling crime.” Vittorio Arrigoni, an activist for pro-Palestinian causes, was kidnapped on Thursday and found dead in a house in Gaza later that evening, confirmed reports from Gaza said. “The secretary-general deplores the abduction and murder of Mr. Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian citizen, in the Gaza Strip and extends his condolences to his family,” said a statement from Ban's office. “This crime was committed against a person who lived and worked among the Palestinian people in Gaza,” the statement added. “The secretary-general calls for the perpetrators of this appalling crime to be brought to justice as soon as possible.”