(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 21 - Andrea Joly, a journalist for daily
newspaper La Stampa, was attacked outside a Turin club that is
frequented by far-right militants where a party was taking place
overnight for its 16th anniversary.
A group of militants, reportedly linked to far-right group
CasaPound, alleged demanded Joly hand over his telephone after
he filmed the event and then attacked him when he tried to get
away.
La Stampa published a video in which three people can be seen to
surround the journalist, hit him and then drag him to the
ground.
At that point, a fourth person with a shaved head arrives kicks
him while a shout 'leave him' can be heard coming from a window.
"We express solidarity with the journalist of the newspaper La
Stampa who was attacked this evening by some people close to
Casa Pound while he was trying to document an event in which
they were involved," said Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo.
"Episodes of violence and cowardly aggression like this, the
responsibility for which I hope will be ascertained as soon as
possible, must have no place in our city: they cannot be
tolerated and must be firmly condemned by all political parties.
"Press freedom is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy and
every attack on those who exercise the right to report is an
attack on democratic values themselves".
Mauro Berruto, an MP for the centre-left Democratic Party (PD),
called on Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to intervene.
The right-wing Turin club, meanwhile, said that the reporter
started the brawl by pushing its members.
"They (the club members) saw a person who was taking photos and
videos and, when they asked him who he was, he did not identify
himself as a journalist but, on the contrary, shoved some lads,
causing a row," said the 'Asso di Bastoni' club. "Why would our
members 'assault' a journalist when they have always been
invited and welcomed (to our events), and we have always
accepted reports by any news outlet". (ANSA).
Journalist attacked by far-right militants in Turin (4)
Video shows La Stampa's Joly being hit, dragged to floor, kicked
![(foto: ANSA)](/webimages/img_457x/2024/7/21/13a06772943c70c1c32464f72c3759b8.jpg)