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Hundreds of people gathered in Milan on Thursday to oppose a proposed antisemitism bill being considered by Italy’s parliament, with Jewish organizations among those calling for it to be rejected, Anadolu Agency reported.
The legislation, known as “DDL 1004”, was introduced by the far-right League party, a junior member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government. It would use criteria adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) to define antisemitism.
The bill passed the Senate in March and is now before the Chamber of Deputies for final approval.
Why are demonstrators opposing the bill?
Protesters assembled outside Milan’s La Scala Opera House, waving Palestinian flags, ringing bells and blowing whistles. They held signs reading “No to the antisemitism bill”, “Criticizing Israel is not antisemitism” and “Protest is a right”, and chanted “Free Palestine”. A large banner read: “One voice. No to Bill 1004.”
Speakers argued that the bill could equate criticism of Israel with racial hatred and silence people who speak out against the occupation and discrimination imposed on Palestinians.
Giulia, a member of the Jewish Anti-Racist Laboratory, told Anadolu that her group and other Jewish organizations oppose the proposal. She said Italy already has laws addressing hate crimes, racism, discrimination and fascist propaganda under the 1993 Mancino law.
“We do not need a specific law based on the IHRA definition that treats criticism of Israel as antisemitism. We believe this law will increase antisemitism rather than prevent it, because it will silence dissent and solidarity with Palestine,” she said.
She added that Jewish people could help highlight that such legislation made them feel less safe and led them to believe antisemitism would increase.
Artist also speaks out against proposal
Bulgarian-born Italian Jewish artist Moni Ovadia also opposed the bill. He said it would target Jews as well as people who stand for justice and freedom, and argued that Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud and German-American historian and philosopher Hannah Arendt would have been convicted under it if they were alive today.
A further protest against the bill is scheduled outside the Chamber of Deputies in Rome on Friday.
