Sandro Ruotolo was threatened with death by the Camorra in 2015
Italy's Interior Ministry, headed by Matteo Salvini, has ordered the withdrawal of the escort of Neapolitan journalist Sandro Ruotolo, who has been threatened with death by one of the most powerful clans of the Camorra mafia.
The news was released by former Justice Minister Andrea Orlando, who promised to question the government in Parliament on the issue. “They took away the escort of Sandro Ruotolo, a journalist who has long been involved in investigations into the mafias,” said Orlando last Saturday (2).
In 2015, Ruotolo received death threats on behalf of Michele Zagaria, head of the Casalesi clan and imprisoned since 2011, due to reports on the trafficking of toxic waste in Campania, the birthplace of the Camorra.
“I only know how to be a journalist like this: being in the neighborhoods, telling stories, interviewing, seeking the truth. I would like to continue doing this”, wrote the journalist on Facebook, avoiding criticism of the government. “I decided not to say anything out of respect I have for institutions,” he declared.
The National Federation of Italian Press (FNSI) sent an appeal asking Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to review the Interior Ministry's decision. “Removing the escort would be an incomprehensible, dangerous choice that would put him in a position to no longer be able to do his job,” the union said.
Meanwhile, Labor Minister Luigi Di Maio, who, like Salvini, is also Deputy Prime Minister, called the Interior Ministry’s decision “absurd” on Monday (4). “Today I return to Rome and I will find out what happened. If the decision was reckless, Ruotolo deserves the escort, because he is one of the journalists in this country who fight against organized crime and the Camorra,” declared Di Maio, who is from Naples.
Soon after taking office in June, Salvini had already hinted that he could take away the escort of another journalist, the writer Roberto Saviano, author of the book “Gomorrah” and threatened with death by the Neapolitan mafia. Shortly after, he backed down and said it was not up to him to decide the issue. The minister has not yet commented on Ruotolo.
By Ansa Agency
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