by InTrieste
The 26th edition of Pordenonelegge, the city’s annual book and freedom festival, opened on Wednesday evening with a focus on the role of free expression and the defense of human rights, drawing participants from across the region.
Friuli Venezia Giulia Governor Massimiliano Fedriga, speaking at the Teatro Verdi during the inauguration, described the festival as a milestone in the region’s cultural calendar. “This edition of Pordenonelegge is important as it brings us closer to the 2027 Italian Capital of Culture milestone and prepares us to experience Pordenone’s cultural vitality beyond national borders,” Fedriga said. He thanked the festival organizers and the Pordenonelegge Foundation for sustaining a cultural initiative that he said has promoted freedom of expression for more than 26 years.
The opening ceremony included local officials such as Regional Infrastructure Councillor Cristina Amirante, Pordenone Mayor Alessandro Basso, Foundation President Michelangelo Agrusti, Chamber of Commerce President Giovanni Da Pozzo, and the festival’s directors and curators.
The event’s keynote speaker was Shirin Ebadi, Iranian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who was Iran’s first female judge and now speaks from exile against the country’s government. Fedriga highlighted ongoing human rights concerns in Iran, citing restrictions on women’s rights, freedom of expression, and the frequent use of capital punishment.
Fedriga also addressed concerns closer to home, noting instances in Western countries that, he said, signal weakening of civil liberties. He referenced recent events in the United States in which individuals faced violence or intimidation for expressing their opinions, emphasizing that freedom is preserved not just by words but by protecting the right to express differing ideas.
“Festivals like Pordenonelegge are valuable because they create a space for dialogue among different perspectives,” Fedriga said. “It is through engagement and respect for diverse ideas that freedom and democracy thrive.”
