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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Angela Giuffrida and agencies

Italian writer Roberto Saviano fined €1,000 for libelling Giorgia Meloni

Roberto Saviano
The fine imposed on Roberto Saviano has led to calls for Italy’s criminal libel laws to be repealed. Photograph: Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse/Shutterstock

The Italian anti-mafia writer Roberto Saviano has been found guilty of libelling the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and fined €1,000 (£865) for calling her “a bastard” over her migration policies.

Supporters of the author criticised the verdict, saying it highlighted Italy’s draconian defamation laws and warned of a “chilling effect” on the media.

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