Have you ever seen a notation like this before?

[pnwmom]

At the bottom of an article about how seismologists in Italy are being criminally prosecuted for manslaughter because they didn't warn the populace about the 2009 earthquake (as if they could have), there's this remark where comments would normally follow:

"Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons."

What legal reasons? Normally, this British tabloid DOES accept comments.

I wonder if they've been scared off by the fact that Italian law allows prosecutors to charge members of the media for defamation merely for publishing comments that "defame" prosecutors -- as has happened recently to several journalists in the Amanda Knox case.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1391653/Italys-seismologist-tried-manslaughter-failing-predict-earthquake.html#ixzz1NhSYp4th

[KT2000]

1. yes - our local paper

does that when there are articles about individuals that are known in the commmunity and they have bee charged with something or in one case, the results of a state audit was announced. They will say something like "comments have been disabled due to possible libel."

I would not mess with the Italians. Amanda Knox's parents were charged with libel for criticizing the prosecution in the case. Since they were her parents, one would expect that, but that does not matter in Italian law.

[customerserviceguy]

2. Italy needs to be censured

for it's antiquated, medieval notions of jurisprudence. Lately, they look more like present-day Islamic societies, or the blasphemy laws of Old Europe, rather than as a civilized nation.

An economic boycott is the only answer I have, when I'm sure our government wants to do nothing besides kiss their asses.