Albanese has been sanctioned by the United States for documenting the situation in Gaza.
At the initiative of the cultural and philosophical project ‘Tlon’, an open letter has been addressed to President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
The letter urges the three to “defend an Italian citizen sanctioned for carrying out her UN mandate”.
The letter calls on Parliament to adopt a unified motion to secure diplomatic protection for Albanese.
Among the letter’s initial signatories are prominent figures from Italian cinema, including Pierfrancesco Favino, Stefano Accorsi, Valeria Golino, Luca Zingaretti, Valerio Mastandrea and Claudio Santamaria.
They are joined by cultural icons such as Serena Dandini, Lella Costa and Alessandro Bergonzoni; intellectuals like art historian Tomaso Montanari and writer Lidia Ravera; and influential contemporary musicians including Marracash, Francesca Michielin, Cosmo and La Rappresentante di Lista. In total, the letter has gathered 80 signatories.
The letter denounces the sanctions imposed on July 9, 2025, by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
It describes the sanctions as “an explicit attempt to divert world attention from the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza”, where over 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives.
Over half of the casualties in Gaza have been women and children.
“We cannot allow sanctions against those who document human rights violations to become a tool for perpetuating impunity,” the document states.
“Silence on Gaza is complicity.”
Meanwhile, Italian street artist Harry Gleb has created a mural in Rome that reads “Hands Off Francesca Albanese.”
ANSA
