An Italian judge scorned for dropping terrorism charges against a group of alleged pro-Iraqi insurgents is suing senior members of the Italian government for character defamation, her lawyer has said. Judge Clementina Forleo has been harshly criticised for ruling in January that the activities the group was accused of -- including helping recruit suicide bombers for Iraq -- amounted to foreign guerrilla activity, which was not illegal. She convicted members of the group of lesser charges, like possessing or trading in false documents."One must not forget that this label, 'the judge who absolved the terrorists', has had serious consequences," Forleo's lawyer, Giulia Bongiorno, told Reuters. "Forleo has already been the subject of a series of intimidations and threatening letters." Among those being sued are Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli, Communications Minister Maurizio Gasparri and Gustavo Selva, chair of parliament's foreign affairs committee. "It's an honour," Gasparri, upon hearing of the lawsuit, told news agency ANSA, defiantly saying that the judge's "absurd" decision had helped undermine Italy's fight against terrorism. "I took issue with mistaken decisions, which I still maintain were extremely wrong ... Judge Forleo should be tougher with terrorism and more respectful of (government)," he said.
Forleo's ruling was the latest legal defeat for the Italian government, which has sent more than 3,000 troops to Iraq and has tried, in coordination with the United States, to step up anti-terrorism policing at home. But the Italian judicial system has yet to deliver one definitive conviction under strict anti-terrorism legislation enacted after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Forleo's precedent-setting ruling has outraged politicians. Justice Minister Roberto Castelli has opened a disciplinary investigation for possible negligence.