Lugano police censor satirical magazine

A daring caricature of Ticino government councillor Marina Masoni in the satirical magazine Il Diavolo prompted the Lugano police to have the last issue of the magazine removed from the newsstands in Lugano on Good Friday. The Lugano city police acted on their own authority. The decision was taken by the commander of the Lugano police, Roberto Torrente, seven days after the magazine was published, according to the SDA news agency. Those responsible for Il Diavolo were irritated by the measure. This had no legal basis. Il Diavolo journalist Sergio Savoia is demanding a written explanation from the city of Lugano for the removal of the magazine from kiosk displays. Savoia wants to know why the police acted, because censoring a cartoon is ridiculous. Neither Roberto Torrente nor police chief Erasmo Pelli could be reached for comment, as both are currently on vacation. 
The controversial cartoon shows FDP government councillor Marina Masoni in an explicit pose on all fours and with her backside bare. The accompanying caption reads: "Get up and walk!" The drawing illustrates an article about Masoni, who was injured in a sports accident and was partially disempowered by her four government colleagues during her absence due to a tax affair.