August 1, 2021, Rome - Journalist Francesca Scognamiglio Petino received a death threat on her Facebook profile after she shared the government’s notification regarding the Green Pass. The Green Pass is a COVID-19 safety measure restricting movement of the unvaccinated citizens in order to curb the spread of the disease. The institution of the Green Pass has received severe backlash from right-wing political parties in the country, resulting in several journalists feeling unsafe and vulnerable to threats and attacks by supporters of these groups.

The threat came in response to Francesca’s update regarding the attacks on journalists in light of the “Green Pass” policy instituted by the current government. The “Green Pass” is a security measure against the pandemic in light of the rising cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in Italy. According to Euronews, “Passengers will only be allowed to use certain public transport if they show a Green Pass, which proves recent vaccination, a negative COVID test in the past 48 hours or recovery from the disease in the last six months.” The policy applies to domestic air travel, trains and sea travel, and is already in place at restaurants, concerts, and gyms. 

Francesca shared a press release from the Journalists' Union following the attack on her Sky colleague Gaia Bozza and the operator Franco Maione during a demonstration in Naples. In response to her Facebook post however, an anonymous user left a comment stating, "Now you have to watch your ass, because there are bullets with your name written on them." The comment was perceived as a death threat and Francesca registered a complaint. Her case is being handled by LDS lawyer Giancarlo Visone was given a mandate to prepare a dossier to be delivered to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed at the threat towards Francesca. Journalists are on the frontlines in their coverage against the disease. They are already at risk of contracting the virus; to threaten and attack them for covering the events related to the issue is absolutely reprehensible. Far-right movements around the world have enabled and encouraged their supporters to use violence against those they disagree with, especially on the digital landscape, putting democratic values and principles at risk. It is the job of a journalist to cover government policies during a pandemic, to encourage violence against them is dangerous, not just for the journalist themselves but also for the political culture of the country. We urge the Italian authorities to ensure Francesca’s safety.