Italy
Television crew harassedPosted Dec 17 2008
An Italian TV crew from the state-owned RAI 1’s news program TG1 was harassed Nov. 23 in Il Trullo, a suburb of Rome, Reporters Without Borders reports.
The crew was working on a report about racist attacks on immigrants by young Italians following the arrests of five young residents on charges of theft and racist remarks the day before.
While reporter Alessandra Di Tommaso had been conducting an interview, a young masked man arrived and began to shove the crew while a woman insulted and threatened Di Tommaso. The crew was forced to leave, accompanied by police.
The journalists’ committee at RAI 1 said, “The violent attack on the TG1 crew confirms the existence of an oppressive climate affecting all those who try to inform the public. Those who believe in press freedom can no longer tolerate such episodes.
President of the Senate Renato Schifani released a statement condemning the aggression and expressing sincere solidarity to the journalists.