Roberto Saviano to go on trial accused of defaming Italian far-right leader

Gomorrah author says he felt compelled to speak up against anti-migration policies

Roberto Saviano has said he felt compelled to speak up against anti-migration policies as he faces a defamation trial over remarks accusing Italy's far-right leaders of a lack of compassion towards people dying at sea.

Saviano, the author of Gomorrah, for which he infiltrated the mafia - he has been in hiding from them since 2006 - will stand trial later this year for calling the Brothers of Italy leader, Giorgia Meloni, a bastard" after she said NGO boats that had attempted to rescue refugees should be sunk.