The harassment of Chinese-Australian artist, political cartoonist and activist Badiucao must end
IFEX joins the more than 40 organisations from around the world who are standing in solidarity with the award-winning cartoonist.
Italy: Security bill threatens freedom of expression and right to protest
The bill would introduce several new offences, and increases the penalties for those participating in unauthorised acts of peaceful civil disobedience, including prison sentences of up to seven years for individuals who block traffic.
EMFA: Seven EU member states want to legalise spying on journalists
A recent report shows that France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden, and Finland want to legalise spying on journalists in the event of a threat to national security.
Italy: Roberto Saviano’s conviction a major blow to free expression
On 12 October 2023, the Criminal Court of Rome convicted journalist Roberto Saviano of criminal defamation in a case that was initiated by Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Italy: Thorough investigation required after arson attack on car of journalist Rossella Puccio
CCTV footage showed a man approach Puccio’s empty vehicle, pour a flammable liquid over it and set it on fire. This is not the first time that the journalist has been targeted.
Italy: Free expression groups call on politicians to take a stand against SLAPPs
“The use of SLAPPs is widespread in Italy. The legal tool most commonly employed to instigate SLAPP cases is defamation, both civil and criminal. However, the right to privacy and the right to be forgotten are also misused to prevent the disclosure of inconvenient information.”
Press groups call for investigation into threats made against Italian journalist Nello Scavo
Media freedom organisations call for a thorough investigation into threats made against Scavo by Neville Gafà, the former director of the office of the Maltese prime minister.
Italy should abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation convictions
On 9 June 2020, the Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing into criminal defamation legislation. Press freedom groups are urging the Court to abolish prison sentences as one crucial step towards reforming these laws.
Italy: Hostility to press is on the rise and it’s being stoked by politicians
Italy’s press freedom record is among the most problematic in Western Europe; it saw the sharpest increase in media freedom alerts recorded in 2018 according to the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister threatens to remove Roberto Saviano’s police protection
Far right minister Matteo Salvini has made a second threat to withdraw the police detail protecting Saviano from mafia assassination attempts.
Italy’s Interior Minister pursues criminal defamation suit against Roberto Saviano
Roberto Saviano faces up to 6 years in jail if convicted of criminally defaming the far right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini; Salvini has previously threatened to remove police protection from the mafia-threatened journalist.
Sicilian mafia planned to murder organised crime reporter Paolo Borrometi
Police thwarted a planned attack against journalist Paolo Borrometi aimed at putting “a stop to his reporting.”
“Vatileaks” verdict: Journalists acquitted, priest found guilty
Vatican judges acquit journalists who published exposés on endemic corruption in the Holy See.
Italian journalists investigated over books exposing Vatican mismanagement
Journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fitiipaldi are being investigated over their books ‘Avarizia’ and ‘Via Crucis’, which examine Vatican finances.