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Loading ...Comedian faces prison for joke about Pope and gays
09.12.2008 1:07pm EDT
(Rome) Italian stand-up comic Sabina Guzzanti is under investigation for “vilification” of the Pope for telling an audience that Benedict XVI would “go to hell and be pursued by two big, gay and very active devils.”
Pope Benedict is known for his vocal opposition to LGBT rights and same-sex marriage.Guzzanti was appearing at an anti-politics rally organized by satirist Beppy Grillo in Rome last July. If convicted, Guzzanti could be imprisoned for up to five years.
The Rome city prosecutor, Giovanni Ferrara, has asked the federal justice minister for permission to start criminal proceedings against Guzzanti. It is a criminal offense in Italy to “offend the honor” of the Pope or the Italian president.
Ferrara said that Guzzanti’s comments went beyond satire.
The Union of Christian Democrats, part of the ruling conservative coalition government in Italy said it would support the charges.
“These gratuitous insults must be punished,” said Luca Volonte, a spokesperson for the party.
Guzzanti is no stranger to controversy. She recently caused a firestorm by suggesting that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s equal opportunities minister Mara Carfagna – who had previously worked as a topless model – got her job in exchange for performing oral sex on the Italian Premier.
Hmmmm….the message board is eerily silent. What? No comments about your “liberal” Europe? If this had happened in the USA, there would be 50 comments posted!
I thought we were beyond the whole idea of blasphemy, and free speech ruled, evne in Italy. I guess I will never visit that place.
And besides, he probably will get a big gay devil fu<& when he goes to hell. I hope it hurts.
But it didn’t happen in the US. It happened in another country–yes, a European country–wherein such activity is illegal.
One supposes that this citizen of that country knew that speech about this subject is restricted by law.
That person willfully broke that law.
The government of that country is prosecuting someone for breaking a law.
What does this have to do with whether Europe is “liberal” or not?
The US has the civil right of freedom of speech. However, try yelling “Fire” in a movie theatre. Or try saying something funny about hijacking or a bomb at an airport.
And the US is currently the fascist conservative theocracy I guess that you’re very satisfied with, going by your comment.
So…what’s the problem?
So much for free speech in Italy.
Criminalizing criticism of His Fraudulence, The Pope, must
give the fascist Republicans at home wet dreams.
They have tried to do the same thing here in the US, with
their shredding of civil liberties and the Constitution, in the
name of all power to the GOP. Heil Bush the Incompetent.
Vikram, This is breaking news, this just came very shortly out to the reading audience. Many people who would be commenting are at work at this time in the USA and may be in the process of getting home from work in Europe. Just wait for a few hours. You will see all kinds of commentariy before too long as the day/evening wears on.
Stunning that anyone would even consider in a western, democratic nation the satire of a public figure as criminal. Positively medieval and unenlightened the Italian parties and Vatican associated with suggesting criminal retaliation against a COMEDIAN have shown themselves to be. Only a coward, a fool and people with something to hide cannot bear the brunt of a joke…
It sounds funny to me. I don’t think much of it…I mean at least she was saying it as a joke. I’m sure the pope says that gays are going to burn in Hell…for real.
is it only a crime to vilify the pope in italy or do our comments here qualify us for prison also? I think the prisons would be full if it were illegal here. I myself would be a lifer. I say let the proceedings begin and let the public realize that they are subject to the whims of this medieval asshole who they apparently must endure with out comment lest they be hauled off. Unbelievable,well cross Italy off the itinerary. Of course we have Pope Palin to deal with here but she’ll just ban our books……..so far.
Too bad one can’t charge “pope” Maledict the XVI with crimes against HUMANITY for his VILLIFICATION of LGBT people and our HUMAN right to marry whomever we choose. How many LGBT people have been MARTYRED at the hands of the Roman Church? Even now the “Church” is seeking to separate John Cardinal Newman from his beloved Father Ambrose St. John so they can canonise him. Even in death, the two lovers (likely platonic and celibate throughout their lives) cannot be allowed to rest in peace. One can only wonder what Rome will do when Father Mychal Judge’s cause for sainthood is brought forward.
Bud Clark
San Diego CA USA
Well given that the Pope was a brown shirt in Germany, I guess I can say is…..Musillini would be proud.
How sad that in the 21st Century critical or satirical commentary of a religion is still an issue, but then again, you can’t make a cartoon of Mohammed lest you loose your head so I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised.
Italy has as long as I can remember been the least democratic and law abiding EU State. Basically they do what they like. Their president has changed the law so he can’t face criminal prosecution!!
I’m sure there is an EU directive against this sort of thing and we’ll probably get to hear about it soon (though don’t hold your breath for the toothless tiger).
I used to work for a UK shipping company and we always had to add “import taxes” to Italian shipments despite there being no duties payable with moving goods or people throughout the EU.
That country makes the Sopranos look like Sponge Bob.
“Liberal” Europe? That’s true only of the more enlightened governments. Italy’s current government is not liberal. The prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is an arch-right-winger, very cozy with the Bush administration. The previous left-wing government of Romano Prodi was brought down in large part because the Vatican campaigned heavily against it for supporting same-sex marriage.
Thankfully, where a member state’s laws clash with EU laws on matters such as human rights and free speech, the EU law takes precedence. If Guzzanti takes the matter to the european court of human rights, It is likely they will order Italy to strike this law from their books.
The Rome City Prosecutor has no sense of humor.
Pope Adolph will rot in hell