When I read your post it occurred to me that I had no idea what "defamation" might mean to Italian law.

Found this bit.

Politicians and their supporters filed several defamation suits during the year. In June 2003, magistrates began defamation proceedings against two prominent journalists in connection with their criticism of legal proceedings against former Prime Minister Andreotti; no further action occurred by year's end. In July, a judge dismissed charges filed by a minister against a journalist who wrote an article characterizing the minister as corrupt; however, in 44 percent of defamation cases in Milan between 2001-2003, journalists were convicted.

Makes it sound like defamation suits are common, and often filed against the press. I'd think that you guys would prefer an environment like that. Rumsfeld would love it!

Then there's this group working towards the "...decriminalisation of libel and the repeal of so-called insult laws..." in European nations.

To my mind, this makes it sound like this is an old (probably very very old) issue. I doubt it has anything to do with Sharia.