Italian Senate Kills Proposed Libel Law

Source: Associated Press

Italian Senate Kills Proposed Libel Law
ROME November 26, 2012 (AP)

Italy's Senate has killed a proposed law that was hotly contested for maintaining a jail penalty against journalists convicted of libel, while imposing only fines for their editors.

The proposal was defeated Monday by a 123-29 vote.

The Italian journalists union called off a national strike Monday but was demonstrating to press their campaign to decriminalize libel altogether.

Parliament's efforts to do just that were circumvented by right-wing lawmakers' apparent moves to protect an editor who was sentenced to 14 months for libel under a rarely enforced Fascist-era law that allows a six-year sentence.


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