Fortunately, journalists and bloggers in the U S who defend Amanda Knox get little more than insulted with maybe a little name calling on the side by those disillusioned enough to think she's guilty. We in the U S are protected and empowered with 'freedom of speech' ....yet not everyone has it so good as we Americans. It seems that in Italy defending Amanda Knox can be a rather dangerous thing to do, well, at least in Perugia anyway. Seems the police and prosecutor in Perugia get more than a little cranky with people who disagree with them- particularly if it concerns Amanda Knox. Blogger Frank Sfarzo has had more than his share of trouble defending Amanda, but then, he actually lives in Perugia so he is therefore a highly visible target and easy prey for those cranky cops- a la Mignini. I have often wondered how he actually pulls off defending Amanda without serious harassment, considering his geographical location in Italy.
Well, as CBS has reported, Frank has been harassed big-time, including being beaten and arrested for his involvement with the Amanda Knox case. Kind of reminds me of prosecutor Mignini trying to put the screws to American author Douglas Preston for having an opinion not to Mignini's liking. Fortunately, Preston left Italy before it could get ugly, yet people like Sfarzo don't really have that option. Hopefully with all the recent news going round about how the Squadra Mobile police set up Frank Sfarzo, someone with power in Italy will do something about the harassment of journalists in Italy who defend Amanda Knox. Over here in the U S we have it easy compared with those in Perugia who live their lives looking over their shoulder.
The really sad part of all this is that many Italian journalists have simply stopped reporting about the Amanda Knox case for fear of Mignini and company. Actually, there is really very little to report at present other than the prosecution's case against Knox is crumbling fast. Soon it will be over and Knox will at last go free. But will the abuse of journalists in Italy stop once the Amanda Knox case is over? Unfortunately I think the abuse will go on. Pressuring journalists in Italy did not start with the Amanda Knox case, and will probably continue as long as people like Mignini hold power. I do believe however, that it was the Amanda Knox case that put the light on the evil and corruption that exists in some areas of the Italian legal system- in Perugia in particular. In all fairness though, it is not the system itself but rather a few corrupt individuals in powerful positions who are at fault. Everyone knows who they are yet is anyone going to do anything about it? This is more than just an Italian problem when an innocent American girl has been sitting in prison for over three years. Yet it is because of this injustice that the world is now watching, and I think that makes some people in Italy damn uncomfortable.
4 comments:
So very true, thank you for the post. Justice must prevail, over the corrupt few.
Hi St. Michael,
It's scary as hell isn't it? Wow, just wow. I have great admiration for Frank Sfarzo's writing and analysis, he's been IMO the best reporter on the case. I'm concerned for his safety and well being.
We once again have a group of cops name against one person's claims. In Amanda's case it is her word that she was slapped in the back of the head against the word of her interrogators. The cops themselves were never investigated to see if her claim was true, or course. Manuela Comodi said there was no need for that!
Now its Franks word that 5 officers assaulted him vs. the cops claim that Frank assaulted them. We know from Amanda's slander suit that the cops word is given more weight automatically. This is even though they failed to tape the interrogation as requested. Now Frank, in his own home, has managed to attack 5 officers. It sounds like he has one neighbor as a witness; I hope nothing happens to them.
Before this case I had no idea Italy had this problem with Free Speech and out of control cops with complicit judges. The CPJ letter was reported pretty widely in the US. It doesn't sound like Perugia has reported on it. I suppose they have their reasons ....
http://perugia-shock.blogspot.com/
On the right side of Perugia Shock, below the reader poll, is a yellow "donate" button. Today I sent Frank 10 Euro, the equivalent of $14.93 in US currency. If you can make a similar gesture to this friend and supporter in Italy who has been there on the right side from the beginning, now is the time to do it. Thanks for your consideration.
Hi Sarah- I know, it's pathetic. Hopefully it's just a few bad apples that need to be tossed out of the barrel. With the news coverage lately, hopefully Frank will be ok now- but in Perugia you never know. Let's hope for the best.
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