Italy: Interior Minister to meet FNSI over press freedom after serious assault of a journalist in Ostia

Following the attack against an Italian journalist by a mafia relative, Secretary of State for Interior Marco Minniti will meet leaders of the Federazione Nazionale della Stampa Italiana (Fnsi) on 15 November to discuss journalists’ concerns for press freedom. The union announced it will organise a protest on 16 November in Ostia, where the attack took place. Federazione Nazionale della Stampa Italiana (FNSI), an IFJ affiliate, said that the meeting with Secretary of State Minniti will be an opportunity to express their solidarity with all media workers threatened in relation to their work and to defend press freedom. Daniele Piervincenzi, a journalist for Italian TV Rai was assaulted by Roberto Spada, the brother of a mafia boss, when he approached him for an interview about the local elections in Ostia, on 7 November, 2017. Video of the attack on RaiDue Twitter account Spada head-butted Piervincenzi after the journalist asked him about his alleged support for the far-right extremist group, Casapound. Piervincenzi had his nose broken before Spada chased away RAI cameraman, Edoardo Anselmi, hitting him with a baton. The cameraman continued filming during the attack. Roberto Spada was arrested on 9 November and is under investigation for “grievous bodily harm and private violence with the aggravating factor of acting in a mafia context,” according to judicial sources. Minister Marco Minniti announced on 13 November a meeting with FNSI in order to discuss urgent measures to protect media workers under threat. Links:

• Statement of the Italian Federation of Journalists (FNSI): "Troupe di 'Nemo' aggredita a Ostia, Fnsi e Usigrai al fianco dei colleghi"
• Video of the attack on RaiDue Twitter account
• FNSI press release about the meeting with Marco Minniti: “Nasce il coordinamento per la sicurezza dei giornalisti, il ministro Minniti in Fnsi: «Senza libertà di stampa la democrazia soffoca»“
• FNSI writes about demonstration in Ostia: ''La piazza di Ostia al fianco dei cronisti minacciati. Don Ciotti: «Continuiamo a denunciare per costruire il cambiamento»''

Updated on 22.11.2017

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