Writer Roberto Saviano is under attack for defamation by Georgia Meloni, and faces three years in prison

She said the boats of NGOs rescuing refugees should be too “Molding”He responded by calling her an “idiot.” Italian writer Roberto Saviano Appears Tuesday for defamation against far-right leader Georgia Meloninow President of the Council of Italy.

The case, which dates back to two years ago, is today in court. Giorgia Meloni had filed a complaint in 2020 against an author At sea, no taxi For defamation, after the latter responded to his statements about immigrants during a clip on Italian television. According to the head of the Brothers of Italy party, Rome must have “Bring the migrants back and sink the boat that saved them”.

The writer, who has often committed himself to defending the rights of exiles crossing the Mediterranean, was highly critical of it. At that time, the government of Matteo Salvini (allied with the Giorgia Meloni party) had just imposed a fine of up to 50,000 euros for NGOs that come to rescue migrants by boat. Interview with the presenter Piazzolettathe day after a Guinean infant died at sea, the writer exclaimed: “I just want to say to Meloni and Salvini: You slackers! How can you?

defamation complaint

Then the far-right leader filed a complaint in favor of “criminal defamation”. “I have already asked my lawyer to initiate legal proceedings against him.”replied, the day after the broadcast, Giorgia Meloni, considering it unnatural to be “hate speech” From the writer’s life without offering him the right to reply. In 2021, a Romanian judge took charge and decided that the case should go to trial. The writer who was already living under police protection after his book was published Gomorrah – Because of the threats of the Italian mafia – today he faces up to three years in prison.

asked by british daily Watchman Roberto Saviano confirmed: “If convicted, I will take my word for it. But I will never regret losing my temper and perhaps even many readers to defend the voiceless.”

In Italy, many voices rose from the literary world to ask the president of the council to drop the charges against the writer. Everyone fears losing the right to express themselves freely in their country, and considers it a form of censorship.

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