Anglo-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie
on Thursday said at the Turin Book Fair that Premier Giorgia
Meloni should be "less childish" over her slander case against
anti.-mafia writer Roberto Saviano for calling her a "bastard"
after the death of a migrant baby amid her fiery anti-migrant
rescue rhetoric when in opposition in 2020.
Midnight's Children and Iranian fatwa spurring Satanic Verses
author Rushdie, one of the stars of the fair with his harrowing
near-fatal real-life New York attack story Knife, said "I heard
about the dispute between Ms Meloni and Roberto Saviano.
"At my personal risk I have to say that politicians should grow
a thicker skin because a politician today, as well as having
great power, also has great authority.
"So it is normal that some of the people should speak about them
directly, even badly, also using a bad word like the one Roberto
used.
"I would give this lady a piece of advice, to be less childish
and to grow up".
Saviano was fined a "symbolic" 1,000 euros in October for
calling Meloni and her ally, then hardline anti-migrant interior
minister Matteo Salvini, "bastards" on Italian TV after a little
girl died in a failed sea rescue in the Mediterranean, and the
premier is still pursuing the case.
The writer also faces a separate trial for having called Salvini
the "minister of the underworld" on another occasion.
Saviano has been in police protection since the publication of
Gomorra in 2006 lifted the lid on the Casalesi clan of
Campania's Camorra mafia.
The book was turned into a 2008 film that won second prize at
Cannes and was the inspiration for a successful Sky TV series.
The Camorra is Italy's third-biggest criminal organisation
behind Calabria's 'Ndrangheta and Sicily's Cosa Nostra.
Press freedom groups have criticized the trial and the fact that
defamation is a criminal offence in Italy.
When he called the two politicians "bastards", Saviano referred
to their previous statements criticizing NGO rescue ships as
"sea taxis" and "cruise ships".
When he was fined, Saviano said "amid the absurdity of being
taken to trial by the premier for having criticized her, there
is no greater honour for a writer than to see their words scare
such a mendacious power.
"When it is asked, one day, how it was possible to let all these
people die at sea, my name will not be among the accomplices".
The judge recognised extenuating circumstances including
"acting for reasons of particular moral value" and ruled that
the penalty would be suspended and Saviano's record left clean.
Saviano appealed to get a full acquittal, spurring Meloni's
countersuit.
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