After a series of incidents, Italy bans fascist and Nazi symbols

The Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament late Tuesday night passed a law banning the public display of fascist and Nazi symbols, following a series of incidents in the country.

The law provides for a prison sentence of six months to three years for fascist or Nazi salutes and greetings, selling fascist and Nazi souvenirs, or spreading such propaganda on the internet. For the law to take effect, it still needs confirmation from the Senate.

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The law was adopted in the lower house after a series of incidents across the country. In a pastry shop in southern Italy, a Hitler cake appeared and was advertised in the window, while the neo-fascist party Forza Nouva is preparing to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the March on Rome by Mussolini’s fascists.

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The author of the law is Emanuele Fiano, a member of the ruling Democratic Party, who believes that Italy should adopt a stricter stance towards the rise of fascist and Nazi nostalgia, following Germany’s example.

Fiano stated in an interview with Radio24 that there was an Italian Facebook page, which has since been shut down, where anti-Semitic speeches by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels were posted, and it had 45,000 followers.

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The right-wing opposition, including the Forza Italia party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, opposed the law on the grounds that it threatens freedom of speech. The populist Five Star Movement was also against it, claiming that it would be better to tighten existing laws against hate speech.