Up to six months in prison or a fine of up to €516. This is the risk faced by the photographer who endangered the barefoot participants during the Race in Honor of San Salvatore on Sunday evening by trespassing onto the dirt road, about three kilometers from the village, immediately after the motorcycle police had passed by, having just shouted to everyone present to stay off the road. This is the provision of Article 660 of the Criminal Code, which punishes anyone who, through indiscretion or for any other reason, harasses or disturbs another person in a public place. According to the Criminal Code, this is not considered an interruption of a religious event, and therefore a procession.
"This is because there is no minister of religion present at the San Salvatore race," explains lawyer Salvatore Madau, who is also a runner. "Therefore, we cannot speak of disruption of religious functions as provided for by Article 405. The event is classified, according to the law, as an event of a different nature, such as a race. The offense is punishable only upon complaint," the lawyer continues. "In this case, the Is Curridoris association, the injured party, should intervene, not the mayor. This must be done within three months of the incident."
The association led by President Alessio Camedda, which organizes the race and represents all the runners, has not yet commented on the possibility of filing a complaint. But there's another aspect: "From a criminal standpoint, there could be a violation of Article 650," Madau explains, "if the photographer's presence at that point is prohibited by a municipal ordinance."
The document, however, doesn't specify this. It's easy to understand, though, given the 900 men rushing past. "But there are also those in the audience who lack common sense," Madau specifies. "No other crimes have emerged because, fortunately, no one has suffered any physical harm."
This is what happened in 2017, when a runner, again at the hands of a photographer, fell to the ground and broke his femur. Madau is keen to point out: "It's clear that for us this is a religious event, but not for the purposes of the criminal code." Meanwhile, the local police in Cabras are continuing their relentless efforts to identify the photographer.
"It's no easy feat," says Mayor Andrea Abis. "But it could have been a tourist. I continue to reiterate that what happened is very serious. In my opinion, it was done intentionally and with no regard."