When is a libel threat really an attempt to muffle criticism, in particular press criticism?
Journalists at an Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, argue that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is trying to use his libel suit against the paper to do just that — shut up opposing voices, according to UK newspaper The Guardian.
And what did this paper do that the Prime Minister did not like?
La Repubblica has asked that Berlusconi answer “10 New Questions” about his relationships with several women — some of whom are reported to be prostitutes and at least one a minor.
The Guardian reports that the Italian newspaper is trying to get 500,000 people to sign an online petition calling for press freedom by Oct. 3 and that newspaper editors in Britain, Germany, Spain and France have signed it.
If you’d like to sign it, click here. To easily translate the petition from Italian to English, you can use Babel Fish.
journajunkie 