Italy: Writer wins free-speech prize for mafia exposé

11 Oct 11 | Index Index, minipost

An Italian writer who exposed the violent world of the Naples Mafia was awarded a major free-speech prize yesterday. Roberto Saviano was awarded the Pen/Pinter International Writer of Courage prize, to share with British playwright David Hare. Saviano’s book, “Gomorrah”, which was published in 2006, exposed Naples’ criminal underworld, and the publication of the book led to death threats to the writer, who was forced to go into hiding. Saviano did not attend the ceremony, but sent a message expressing his gratitude “to those who made it possible that my words became dangerous for certain powers that need silence and shade.”

Italy: Wikipedia shuts down Italian language edition to protest new law

06 Oct 11 | Index Index, minipost

Wikipedia have shut down their Italian language page in protest against a wiretapping act being proposed to the country’s parliament. The proposed law would require websites to publish within 48 hours a correction or comment relating to any content an applicant has deemed “detrimental to their image,”  or risk being fined €12,000. In a message posted on the site on Wednesday, Wikipedia said the page was currently just hidden, but explained there was a risk they would soon be forced to delete it. The proposed rule has already received substantial criticism as a tool that will damage free expression.