An Oriana Fallaci reader
Former Italian Resistance member during WWII, Communist and war correspondent Oriana Fallaci is dying of cancer, but she’s going out with a fight. If you haven’t read Rage and Pride, you probably haven’t heard about the ensuing lawsuits
A radical Muslim leader, Adel Smith, told the Guardian he was bringing a civil action for damages against the writer and journalist Oriana Fallaci. He has already succeeded in getting Ms Fallaci committed for trial next year in criminal proceedings for blasphemy.
. . .
Mr Smith accuses her of “using the same techniques as were used in the Nazi era against the Jews”. The judge in Bergamo to whom he took his complaints rejected a request for Ms Fallaci to be charged with inciting racial hatred, but agreed that there were 18 instances of blasphemy.
and controversy:
In May, an Italian judge committed her for trial on charges of offending Islam, but this has served only to reinforce her self-image as a wronged Cassandra. Her writings have been the subject of legal proceedings in France and Switzerland.
If you want to read what Fallaci has to say, here’s a reader:
March 2003 The Rage, the Pride and the Doubt: Thoughts on the eve of battle in Iraq.
June 2005 Prophet of Decline: An interview with Oriana Fallaci
July 2005 (via Roger L. Simon) Mystery Achievement‘s 4-part translation of “The Enemy We Treat Like A Friend” Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
