Rushdie tells Meloni to ‘grow up’ over author slander case

SIR SALMAN RUSHDIE has told the Italian prime minister to “grow up” after she sued a prominent Italian writer for calling her a “bastard” over her hardline views on migration.

Roberto Saviano, the author and journalist, was found guilty of defamation in October after insulting Georgia Meloni during a TV discussion about a six-month-old baby from Guinea who died crossing the Mediterranean.

“All the bullshit [Ms Meloni says about], sea taxis, cruises [for migrants],” he said. “All I can say is: bastards, how could you? Meloni, Salvini: bastards.”

Mr Saviano was fined a symbolic €1,000 (£860) in what was seen as a test of freedom of expression in a country where defamation can be punished with up to three years’ imprisonment. Speaking at the Turin Book Fair on

Thursday, British-American novelist Sir Salman said he disapproved of the case.

“At my personal risk, I have to say that politicians should grow a thicker skin because a politician today, as well as having great power, also has great authority,” he said, according to Ansa, Italy’s national news agency.

“So it is normal that some of the people should speak about them directly, even badly, also using a bad word like the one Roberto used. I would give this lady a piece of advice – to be less childish and to grow up.”

In 1989, Iran issued a fatwa urging Muslims to kill Sir Salman following publication of his book

In 2022, he lost an eye in an attack at a literary festival in New York.

Mr Saviano has lived under 24-hour police protection since the publication of – his book about the Camorra mafia – in 2006.