Blogger defamed
An Italian blogger has been convicted of defamation, even though he hasn’t actually defamed anyone.
Mr Mancini set up his blog Il Bolscevico Stanco (The Weary Bolshevik) in 2005, dealing with events in the Valle d’Aosta region in northern Italy. Using the pseudonym of General Sukhov, he wrote various articles attacking local figures in crude and sarcastic terms. Four people, including two journalists, had filed complaints for defamation, and Mr Mancini was ordered to pay $16,900 (£9,300) in fines and damages.
The General Sukhov columns were “certainly written in an extreme style”, the press watchdog group said, “but the complainants were not able to show they were untrue”.
Reporters Without Borders have condemned the €13,500 sentence.
It looks like the blogger is being punished for his bad language and not because he posted false information, which is unacceptable. He was found responsible for comments posted on his blog by some of his readers, a decision which goes against European jurisprudence.
The organisation also pointed out that defamation complaints against journalists and bloggers should go before civil courts, and not as in the case, to a criminal court which could hand down prison sentences.
Sunday 25 Jun 2006 | Paul | Italy
