TURIN - During his appearance at the Salone del Libro book fair in Turin, the  author Salman Rushdie weighed in on the controversy surrounding Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

 Rushdie suggested that Meloni should demonstrate more maturity and resilience in response to criticism, particularly in light of a recent libel conviction secured by Meloni against Italian writer and journalist Roberto Saviano.

“At my personal risk I have to say that politicians should grow a thicker skin because a politician today, as well as having great power, also has great authority" - "So it is normal that some of the people should speak about them directly, even badly, also using a bad word like the one Roberto used."He then added: "I would give this lady a piece of advice, to be less childish and to grow up."

 Indeed, Saviano had referred to Meloni as a "bastard" due to her firm stance on immigration during a television interview in December 2020. Despite Saviano's remarks occurring while Meloni was still in opposition and pertaining to the tragic death of a six-month-old infant from Guinea in a shipwreck en route to Italy, a court in Rome handed Saviano a "symbolic" €1,000 suspended fine for his libelous statement against Meloni.

 Rushdie, renowned for his international mafia bestseller "Gomorrah," highlighted the need for politicians to develop resilience in the face of criticism, emphasizing that individuals, even when using derogatory language, have the right to speak directly about politicians. He noted that politicians wield significant power and authority and thus should expect scrutiny and criticism.

 Known for his novel "The Satanic Verses," the writer was forced into hiding in the UK for a decade since Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a religious decree “fatwa”a year later ordering believers to kill the writer for allegedly insulting Islam in the novel.

 In 2022, he was attacked on stage at an arts gathering in rural New York state, resulting in the loss of his right eye. Rushdie is currently in Turin to promote his latest memoir, "Coltello" (Knife), reflecting on the attack and his near-fatal encounter.

 The Salone del Libro, established in 1988 as one of Europe's largest book fairs, is hosting its 2024 edition from May 9th to May 13th. Rushdie engaged with journalists at the Turin book fair and is scheduled to appear alongside Italian journalist Roberto Saviano on Friday.

 Meanwhile, Meloni, the leader of the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party, is currently embroiled in another legal dispute, suing a historian who labelled her a "neo-Nazi at heart."

jdc