A-Infos (en) Italy, FAI, Umanita Nova #29-25 - No to gags and reprisals. Gasparri and the three bills to target protests against the genocide (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

In a previous article (U.N. No. 28), we highlighted the risk of a new 
crackdown by the government under the pretext of fighting anti-Semitism. 
Let's now try to clarify what is being planned. Three bills on this 
topic have been introduced in Parliament: Bill 1004, signed by Lega Nord 
members Romeo, Pirovano, and Bergesio, which, having been introduced in 
January 2024, is already at an advanced stage of discussion in the 
Senate committee; Bill 1575, signed by Renzi's Scalfarotto, introduced 
in July 2025; and Bill 1627, introduced in August 2025 by Forza Italia 
member Gasparri.

Unlike the infamous "Security" bill (which was presented directly by the 
government as a whole), here we are faced, at least apparently, with 
proposals from individual parliamentarians. But this is far from 
reassuring, given that security and repressive issues are a strong 
unifying factor for the majority (and also for a significant portion of 
the parliamentary opposition).

Let's see what the IHRA's "operational definition" means.

This repressive crackdown has a long history, originating in the work of 
the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an 
intergovernmental body supposedly dedicated to preserving the memory of 
the Holocaust. Back in 2016, the IHRA plenary assembly adopted a 
"non-legally binding operational definition of antisemitism," 
accompanied by a series of indicators. The fact that it was a 
"non-legally binding" working document obscured its dangers, and it 
failed to take into account that the "definition" cleverly conflated the 
concepts of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Indeed, the document 
highlights how anti-Semitic manifestations "may target the State of 
Israel because it is conceived as a Jewish collectivity" and, among 
other indicators, lists "denying Jews the right to self-determination, 
for example by claiming that the existence of the State of Israel is an 
expression of racism"; or "drawing comparisons between contemporary 
Israeli policies and those of the Nazis."

Consequently, denouncing the Palestinian genocide (which, in reality, 
links Israel to Nazi Germany) and denouncing the apartheid prevailing in 
"democratic" Israel fall within the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.

Regarding the "non-legally binding" nature, the definition then 
specifies that "acts of anti-Semitism are considered crimes when defined 
as such by the law of the country (for example, Holocaust denial or the 
distribution of anti-Semitic materials in some countries)," thus leaving 
countries free to introduce specific restrictive legislation.

The IHRA "operational definition" was adopted by the European Union in 
2018 and in Italy by the Conte II government (PD-M5S) in 2020, also as a 
"non-legally binding" act. Meanwhile, however, several countries, such 
as Germany and the United Kingdom, have introduced highly restrictive 
legislation that considers any form of criticism of the State of Israel 
a crime.

THE ROMEO AND SCALFAROTTO BILLS

We discuss them together because the Scalfarotto Bill is, literally, a 
carbon copy of the Northern League's.

The bill "adopts the operational definition of antisemitism formulated 
by the Plenary Assembly of the International Holocaust Remembrance 
Alliance (IHRA) on May 26, 2016, including the related indicators" 
(Article 1).

In addition to training and educational activities and the establishment 
of a database on antisemitism, the bill provides for restrictions on 
access to social media (Article 2, paragraph b), with the related 
removal of "antisemitic" content, and the possibility of prohibiting 
"antisemitic" demonstrations "in the event of an assessment of a serious 
potential risk due to the use of symbols, slogans, messages, or any 
other antisemitic act pursuant to the operational definition of 
antisemitism adopted by this law."

These provisions would make it possible to prohibit any demonstration 
critical of the State of Israel.

The Scalfarotto Bill differs from the previous one by a single paragraph 
requiring RAI to promote information campaigns on anti-Semitism (Article 
2, paragraph g). It is therefore unclear why some commentators (who 
evidently have not read the text) consider it "less restrictive" than 
the Northern League's bill.

THE GASPARRI BILL

This bill also adopts the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, drawing 
serious criminal consequences. Article 2 is being integrated. Article 
604 bis of the Criminal Code provides for a prison sentence of two to 
six years for denying "the right to the existence of the State of 
Israel" or for calling for its destruction (note that apologia for the 
Holocaust is already punishable under the same article). An aggravating 
circumstance has been introduced for anti-Semitic acts (Article 4). 
School and university staff are required to report to the authorities 
"any racist or anti-Semitic acts" they witness, otherwise risking severe 
disciplinary and criminal sanctions (Article 3).

The icing on the cake: mandatory training courses on anti-Semitism are 
being provided for all public sector personnel, from magistrates to 
teachers. For the police in particular, "training in the preparation of 
reports of anti-Semitic acts" is provided (Article 2).

AN ANTI-SEMITIC, RACIST GOVERNMENT (YET FRIENDLY OF ISRAEL)

Anti-Semitism (the real kind) is, like any form of racism, a cancer that 
must be eradicated. As anarchists, we are perfectly equipped to clearly 
distinguish between the genocidal responsibility of the State of Israel 
and individual people of Jewish culture or religion, many of whom have 
even taken a firm stand against Zionism. Even some ultra-Orthodox Jewish 
currents deny the legitimacy of the State of Israel for strictly 
religious reasons (the State of Israel can only be re-established by the 
Messiah at the end of time...).

On the contrary, we have heard Minister Roccella denigrate the Holocaust 
by claiming that "school trips" to Auschwitz are merely a "left-wing" 
pretext to attack fascism! Words that would not have been out of place 
in the mouth of Nazi ideologue Rosenberg. Will we ever see her charged 
under Article 604 bis of the Criminal Code? We seriously doubt it.

While we remain steadfast in the fight against all forms of racism, we 
must intensify our mobilizations against this infamous legislation that 
is being prepared (the risk of it resulting in a worsening synthesis of 
the three bills is real) to defend freedom of thought, speech, and assembly.

Mauro De Agostini

https://umanitanova.org/no-a-bavagli-e-rappresaglie-gasparri-e-i-tre-ddl-per-colpire-le-proteste-contro-il-genocidio/
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