by InTrieste
More than 80 prominent Italian cultural figures have signed an open letter in support of Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, following sanctions imposed on her by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The letter, organized by the Italian cultural and philosophical initiative Tlon, calls on President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to defend Albanese, an Italian citizen, against what it describes as punitive measures for fulfilling her responsibilities under a United Nations mandate.
The signatories — including actors, musicians, writers, and academics — urge Italian institutions to take a unified stance in support of Albanese and to ensure her diplomatic protection. “The silence of our institutions in the face of this unprecedented attack would be unacceptable,” the letter states.
Among those who signed are actors Pierfrancesco Favino, Claudia Gerini, Luca Zingaretti, Valerio Mastandrea, Claudia Pandolfi, and Alba Rohrwacher. Musicians and artists such as rapper Marracash, singers Cosmo, Levante, and Francesca Michielin, as well as art historian Tomaso Montanari, writer Lia Ravera, and cartoonist Zerocalcare, also lent their support.
Albanese has faced criticism from some governments over her statements concerning Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The sanctions, announced during the Trump administration and recently reiterated by U.S. officials, have been condemned by several human rights organizations and now by a broad swath of Italy’s cultural community.
As of now, Italian government leaders have not issued a public response to the appeal.
