Italy: Prosecutor issues seizure order for article published by newspaper Domani - Article

Italian press freedom is seriously threatened by yet another attempt by a member of the current government to silence independent journalism

Also available in ITA

Italy: Newspaper Domani sued for defamation by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - Article

At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing in the proceedings for aggravated defamation initiated by current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against Emiliano Fittipaldi and Stefano Feltri, respectively correspondent and editor of the daily national newspaper “Domani”, we call on Prime Minister Meloni to withdraw the defamation lawsuit and to initiate a reform process targeting defamation laws in the country

Italy, journalism and the rule of law - Article

In a country where media freedom and pluralism are formally protected by a solid legislative framework, the ability of journalists to conduct their investigative work still faces several challenges. We discussed these issues in an interview with Lorenzo Bagnoli, IrpiMedia journalist

by Maria Francesca Rita

2022 Rule of law report: OBCT submission for Italy - Article

The European Commission published the 2022 Rule of Law Report on July 13. In response to the call for stakeholders' contribution, OBCT submitted a report answering questions related to the situation in Italy

Time to take action against SLAPPs - Article

Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, signs a comment about strategic lawsuits against public participation, calling them "a significant and growing threat to the right to freedom of expression"

The first MFRR-report documents severe threats to media freedom - Article

During the first four months, the project has seen a wide range of threats against media freedom in Europe. Few countries are spared: two-thirds have had at least one violation of media freedom since the beginning of March. Main reasons were the impact of Covid-19 crisis, police violence and online harassment

SLAPP: an analysis by Flutura Kusari and Nik Williams - Article

An op-ed published by openDemocracy about strategic lawsuits that threaten freedom of expression. The two authors, working for ECPMF and for the Media Freedom Rapid Response, remind of the need of a strong action at European level

Malta: Renewed call for justice 1,000 days after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia - Article

Together with other media freedom and human rights organisations, OBCT again demands justice for all those involved in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was also a victim of several SLAPPs. Here the text of the call

New attacks against journalists during protests and demonstrations - Article

IPI drafts an overview of the attacks suffered by reporters and media workers in the first six months of 2020: the situation is alarming and the MFRR partners raise further concerns inviting authorities to protect journalists working during protests and demonstrations. Recommendations for States and police officers include the invitation to develop cooperation schemes

Turkey must end the harassment of journalist Can Dündar and lift the block of his online radio - Article

We join PEN International and other 37 civil society organisations in deploring the decision to block Özgürüz, the online radio station headed by Can Dündar, a Turkish journalist living in exile in Germany, whom OBCT interviewed during a festival in Italy. Here the text of the call