UN rights expert concerned by tension between Italian Government and judiciary

An expert from the Geneva-based United Nations Commission on Human Rights today expressed concern over a growing confrontation between the Italian Government and the country's judiciary.

Dato Param Cumaraswamy, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, has sent an urgent appeal to the Italian Government in response to a nationwide protest staged earlier this month by hundreds of Italian magistrates alarmed by political interference in trials and opposed to the planned reforms of the judiciary, which, they feared, could bring prosecutors under the control of the executive branch.

In his appeal, the Special Rapporteur noted in particular that members of the judiciary have accused the Government of trying to delay proceedings against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is facing charges of bribery.

The Special Rapporteur drew attention to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, and said he was seeking an urgent visit to Italy to help find a solution to the present dispute.