British rock star charged in Italy for calling Giorgia Meloni a ‘fascist' and a ‘Nazi'
The frontman of the British rock band Placebo has been charged with defamation after he allegedly called the Italian prime minister a 'fascist' and a 'Nazi' while on stage.
Italy's justice ministry approved on Monday a request from prosecutors to charge Brian Molko, a 52-year-old Scottish-American, over comments he made about Giorgia Meloni during a concert in Turin in 2023.
Mr Molko allegedly called Ms Meloni a 'piece of s—, fascist, racist' as well as a 'Nazi' at the Sonic Park festival in Stupinigi which drew about 5,000 people.
Turin prosecutors responded to a complaint from police at the festival and opened an investigation into Mr Molko for defamation and contempt.
Defamation in Italy can include a prison term of up to three years, but a prison sentence is unlikely to be imposed in this case, according to a spokesman for Carlo Nordio, the justice minister.
He said that the lead singer was more likely to face a fine of up to €5,000 (£4,200) if the charges were upheld.
Nevertheless, a lighter punishment is unlikely to allay criticism of Ms Meloni and her government that they are systematically challenging the limits of free expression.
Last year Sir Salman Rushdie told the prime minister to 'grow up' after she successfully sued celebrated investigative journalist, Roberto Saviano for calling her a 'b-----' over her hard-line views on migration.
Mr Saviano, the internationally acclaimed author of Gomorrah which highlighted the criminal activities of the Neapolitan mafia, was found guilty of defamation in 2023 after insulting Ms Meloni during a television interview about a baby from Guinea who died while crossing the Mediterranean.
Ms Meloni had sued Mr Saviano before being elected Italy's first female prime minister in October 2022. He was fined €1,000 (£830).
Last year, Ms Meloni dropped a defamation lawsuit against a veteran historian who allegedly said that she was a 'neo-Nazi in her soul' when she was in opposition in April 2022.
The trial of 82-year-old Luciano Canfora was due to have started on Oct 7, but Ms Meloni withdrew her complaint against the man considered one of Italy's leading intellectuals after previously seeking compensation of €20,000.
During Ms Meloni's first year in office, Italy recorded the highest number of lawsuits against public participation, according to a report by the European Parliament's civil liberties committee.
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