Italian politician alleges women who were freed last week 'had consensual sex' with fighters

A top politician in Italy has sparked controversy after he tweeted that the two Italian women who were freed from Islamic terrorists last week had "consensual sex" with the fighters.

According to the Independent, Maurizio Gasparri said in the tweet that "#VanessaGreta had consensual sex with the guerrillas? And we're paying!", days after the women were released by extremists.

The Italian women had been held by the extremists for a period of six months.

Ramelli and Marzullo, both 21, volunteered as healthcare assistant in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.