Rapper Ghali as role model

Injured during protest against RAI headquarters in Naples

Rapper Ghali Amdouni was the model for a protest against the RAI headquarters in Naples.

(Bild: APA/Getty Images)

Ten people were injured in riots outside the RAI headquarters in Naples on Tuesday. Left-wing activists had been demonstrating against the public broadcaster's coverage of the war in the Middle East.

The slightly injured are five security forces and five demonstrators. The activists were supporting the rapper Ghali, who had shouted "Stop the genocide in Palestine!" after his performance at the Sanremo music festival on Saturday. The RAI channel broadcast the event. The rapper's statement drew criticism from the Israeli ambassador to Italy, Alon Bar. "I think it is shameful that the stage of the Sanremo Festival was used to spread hatred and provocation in a superficial and irresponsible way," said Bar.

I think it's shameful that the stage of the Sanremo festival was used to spread hatred and provocation in a superficial and irresponsible way.

Israelischer Botschafter Alon Bar

Rapper: "People are afraid" 
 The Italian rapper, who has Tunisian parents, rejected the accusations. He had always spoken about Palestine, not just since the attack on Israel on October 7. "The politics of terror continues, people are afraid to say stop the war, stop the genocide," said the 30-year-old.

Here you can see a contribution by the rapper from the festival in Sanremo.

The RAI team, who organized and broadcast the festival, also reacted: "Every day our news and programmes report on the tragedy of the hostages in the hands of Hamas and recall the massacre of children, women and men on 7 October. My solidarity with the people of Israel and the Jewish community is heartfelt and based on conviction," said RAI boss Roberto Sergio.