ITALY: Author threatened with death: plese sign petition

RAPID ACTION NETWORK



23 October 2008
RAN 56/08



ITALY: Author threatened with death



The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN is concerned by reports that members of the mafia in Italy denounced in Roberto Saviano’s novel Gomorra, have reportedly announced he will be assassinated by Christmas. Saviano has told the press that he is leaving Italy as a consequence. For the last two years, he has been living under permanent police protection.

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN, the world association of writers, is appalled by the threats to the life of Italian author Roberto Saviano arising following the publication of his novel, Gomorra, that draws upon his research into the Neapolitan mafia. Threats to his life have apparently increased since the recent launch of a feature film based on the book.

International PEN calls on its membership of writers based in 104 countries world wide to adding their signatures to the petitions protesting the threat to his life.

Saviano is one of many writers world-wide who, in speaking out and describing the world around them, are placed into enormous danger. This year alone, 31 writers and journalists have been murdered in the course of their profession. International PEN urges all governments to take measures to protect them, to bring those who use threat and murder as a means of censorship to justice.



A petition hosted by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica’s website, for which Saviano been a contributor, has been launched urging the Italian authorities to take its responsibility on Roberto Saviano’s case. PEN Centres are encouraged to join the petition by following the link bellow. When filling in the petition please add your name, your country and your PEN Centre.

http://www.repubblica.it/speciale/2008/appelli/saviano2/index.html



The WiPC recommends the following links with information on this case:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/16/italy-mafia

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jan/14/italy.crimebooks



For Roberto Saviano’s website: http://www.robertosaviano.it/



For further information please contact Sara Whyatt at the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN, Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER Tel: +44 (02) 20 7405 0338 Fax: +44 (0) 20 74050339 Email: sara.whyatt@internationalpen.org.uk