Freedom of humour in Italy
Sabina Guzzanti could get five years in prison for ‘offending the honour of the sacred and inviolable person’ of Benedict XVI. Who knew? Who knew the pope’s person was ‘sacred and inviolable’ as a matter of law in Italy? I suppose I might have guessed it was if anyone had asked me directly – ‘Excuse me, do you think the person of the pope is sacred and inviolable as a matter of law in Italy?’ – but no one had asked me directly, or indirectly either – ‘Excuse me, how do you think Italian law treats the person of the pope? Any guesses?’, and I didn’t know. I can’t be everywhere at once you know – I only have two hands.
But now I do know, and I think it’s an outrage.
Giovanni Ferrara, the Rome prosecutor, is invoking the 1929 Lateran Treaty between Italy and the Vatican, which stipulates that an insult to the Pope carries the same penalty as an insult to the Italian President.
Oh – so an insult to the Italian President carries a penalty of five years in prison? Who knew? That one I wouldn’t even have guessed, even if someone had asked me directly. I would have said oh don’t be so silly, of course there’s no such law in Italy. Shows what I know.
The July rally [at which Guzzanti committed her crime] was called to protest against alleged interference by the Vatican and the Catholic Church in Italian affairs, from abortion to gay rights, but also to attack the Prime Minister for passing “ad personam” laws to protect his own interests and avoid prosecution on corruption allegations.
Gee, I can’t see why anyone would object to laws like that, can you? ‘I, the president, rule that it shall be against the law to attempt to charge with with any crimes I may happen to have committed while in office.’ What’s wrong with that? Guy’s got to be able to concentrate, after all.
The move to prosecute her over her anti-papal remarks was praised by some on the centre Right, including Luca Volonte, a Christian Democrat, who said that “gratuitous insults must be punished”.
By a prison sentence. Of five years. What an interesting way to think about the matter.
Pink News points out that this is all a tad fascist, literally.
The Minister of Justice in Italy has given prosecutors permission to use a Fascist-era law to punish a comedian for mocking the Pope…Now the Rome prosecutor has been given permission to proceed against her under the 1929 Lateran Treaty. The treaty, between the Vatican and the Italian government, was signed when fascist leader Benito Mussolini was in power.
Gone but not forgotten, apparently.
Berlusconi is the PM, not the president.
Oh right – make that ‘I the PM’. My bad.
Whenever I think I’ve lost my sense of humor entirely, whenever I despair of the utter inanity of American politics, always bella Italia comes through to rescue me from the darkness with a belly laugh. Ah, Silvio Berlusconi, you impetuous, amoral scamp! Who else could serve as keeper of the flame for both the Fascist and Dadaist traditions in Italian politics simultaneously? No one, surely – not even that porn star turned parliamentarian, whateverhernameis.
Of course, I wouldn’t be able to laugh so heartily if I lived there: Please accept my sympathies and condolences, citizens of Italy.
G. Berlusconi may be a crook but be fair he is no facist! (yes I know he made a deal with former facists to form a goverment} that said, this is so outrageous I doubt it will survive a higher court challenge or the European court, also I think France has these sort of laws as well, the Sun newspaper was fined for insulting the French president a few years back.
Richard, I suggest you read what G said again, because it was very carefully worded – “keeper of the flame for both the Fascist and Dadaist traditions in Italian politics”.
That’s not saying he *is* a fascist, but he is definitely maintaining/resurrecting certain of their past techniques and policies – that much is a matter of public record.
Back to the matter in hand – Italian thought crime penalties!
What would I be stricken with for saying the Pope’s a wanker?
And how would he prove in court that he wasn’t?
“the Sun newspaper was fined for insulting the French president a few years back”
Nope, never happened…
It could have, there is a penalty of 45.000 Euros for “diffamation” (which is not the same as insult by the way) of the president, but I don’t think it’s ever applied. There are similar laws in the UK concerning the Queen. Jeebus knows that Rebekah Wade wanted it, though; she must have been bitterly disappointed when her 2 special French language editions calling Chirac a whore and a worm failed to do the trick after being distributed in Paris…
Still, once again reality fails Richard. Or is it the other way round?…
As for the fascist tag, I tend to consider fascist any government that wants to fingerprint children for the sole reason of their ethnicity. Labelling a priori all gipsies as criminals? Sounds like fascism to me but maybe I have disgustingly low standards…
Andy, it’s speech crime penalties even in Italy thought can only be penalized by God & His mind readers.
Ophelia, spot on! but ‘my bad’, sorry, no: your error.
I wonder what would happen if you threw a cream pie at il papa‘s face. Maybe they’d shoot you for that one.
It’s interesting how recent laws in the progressive UK are similar in spirit to old laws from fascist Italy. In fact, as an American, I can’t help but notice citizens of the more ‘progressive’ countries of Europe all have less free speech than I do.
Hey, how about those fun-loving Jordanians?
Carter,
Yeah, we don’t have free speech enshrined in a written constitution, which is indeed a worse situation than the US.
But you’re stuck with my (to be ex) in-laws, so it ain’t all gravy for you, pal! :-))
Arnaud If the British empire and its commonwealth should last for a thousand years men will still say that was their (the Suns)finest hour.
If you haven’t seen it before, this article is very worth reading:
The Trouble with Religious Hatred Laws. From which:
Oh joy,
Possibly feeling themselves being left behind by the super-sensitivities on display in Italy and Jordan, those global exporters of hardcore Islamic martyr-porn, Saudi Arabia, are at it again
1: Bang Head Against Wall
2: repeat step 1
Oh Lord!it just gets worse every day.
@ Andy Gilmour
Phew. As Richard said, it just gets worse. The sooner we wean our economies off oil, the better for all who wish to live on this side of the Enlightenment.
I so agree Roger, although the only problem is none of us seem prepared to make the radical changes in our way of life that would be required to make that happen. I would love to see us wean ourselves of oil but would I give up my car or make do without a new computer or wide screen T.V ect no,I just hope that other people will make the sacrifices needed.
Hey, Richard,
I’m a single dad with 2 small kids…we’ve got no car, minimal ‘gadgets’, turn the water temp down to sub-60deg on the combi boiler, don’t leave electricals on ‘standby’, avoid/re-use plastic shopping bags, etc,etc.
We’re not exactly huddled round a fire in the middle of a wattle & daub hut, mind you…
:-))
p.s. Anyone got any spare money they’re not using…?? ;-)
It does get easier as you get older Andy it is one of the few compensations of age you have more cash than you need.Dont worry in another ten years or so you will be able to asist me in wrecking the planet with your thoughtless consumption.
Richard:
“I just hope that other people will make the sacrifices needed.”
Well, there’s nothing to stop you from making an example for others to follow.
Personally, I don’t want to lose my car, I just want to lose its internal combustion engine.
“I just hope that other people will make the sacrifices needed.”
Welcome to the Tragedy of the Commons, Richard. You may want to check the Wikipedia article.
The thing about the “tragedy” is that it isn’t tragic, as in inevitable. People are able to, as a group, take selfless decisions for the common good.
Roger I could but to be frank I dont want to I am 54 years old and have worked like a slave all my life,Iam now at that time in my life where for the first time I dont have to worry about paying the bills so I am sorry I am not about to deny myself a few of lifes luxuries. I would point out that I do my bit in other ways I am strict vegetarian to the point of not wearing leather shoes,I figure that is enough.
I don’t disagree with you Richard and I sincerely hope you are enjoying your hard won comfort.
Personally I’m fed up with having to pay so much extra to be ecologically friendly. From solar power, to electricity supply, to cleaning and washing products, to insulation material, to paint, to food, to wooden furniture, and the rest. The ecologically sound choices are all significantly more expensive than the environment bespoiling choices. It seems clear that both markets and government are failing in this respect.
There’s something ludicrous about standing at one’s kitchen window, scraping carrot peelings into the composting bin, cleaning one’s reusable supermarket bags, only to look up and see aircraft full of people flying to Eastern Europe for binge drinking nights, or skiing, or whatever.
Besides, if we really want to spare the environment, the first most effective step would be to outlaw ecology-damaging organizations like the Catholic church and enforce family size rules, i.e. like-for-like replacements and not a child more. But things will have to get “martial law serious” before polices like that are introduced, I’m sure (and of course, by then it will be far too late).
But now I’m drifting waaaay off topic….
Cheers mate,I agree and would add that I also resent being lectured to by the likes of Al Gore,Madona ect on the challenges of climate change and how we should all make sacrifices to combat it. The irony of someone with several huge homes lecturing people like me that live in a modest 3 bed semi seems to be completely lost on them.
“3 bed semi”?
Luxury!!
House? You used to live in a house? We used to live in one room. 26 of us!
I left Italy 29 years ago, and never regretted it.
I tell that to people (Americans), and without fail they go: “How could you leave Italy? It’s such a wonderful country!”
Yes, gimme more stereotype, baby…please! Eediots…