Italy's highest court has authorised the performance of a fascist salute except when it poses a threat to public order or the revival of a banned fascist party.
The Court of Cassation has ordered a retrial on appeal in the case of eight neo-fascist militants who saluted during a commemorative event in Milan in 2016 to mark the anniversary of the 1975 murder of a fellow militant.
The court's favourable ruling coincidentally followed the publication of a January video showing hundreds of men giving fascist salutes. The event commemorated the 46th anniversary of the murder of three militants from the youth wing of the now defunct Italian Social Movement (MSI). Yes, this is the same neo-fascist party that later transformed itself into the Brothers of Italy and is led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Another neo-fascist party Casapound, which organised the event, celebrated the court's decision as a "historic victory". The event in Rome drew condemnation from opposition parties, which called on Meloni's government to ban all neo-fascist groups. However, Meloni positions the party as a conservative advocate of patriotism and claims that "there are no nostalgic fascists, racists or anti-Semites in the DNA of the Brothers of Italy."
And we certainly believe them
And here is the video from Italy, where one of the largest fascist rallies of the 21st century took place
The far-right rally, which gathered from 500 to 1.5 thousand people according to various estimates, took place on the evening of 7 January in Rome. "The "event" was dedicated to the anniversary of the 1978 attack by left-wing radicals on the headquarters of the neo-fascist National Right party. Members of the organisation that took responsibility for the attack said they shot fascist militants with submachine guns as they set off on a violent action.
Years later, a reconciliation plaque was erected at the site to honour all the victims of the "Lead Seventies", but the authorities never explicitly expressed support for the far-right. This changed when Giorgi Meloni came to power: the government's cultural adviser attended the anniversary and the head of the region laid a mourning wreath. The loyalty of the authorities made it possible to assemble one of the largest openly fascist events in the country.
In the video, a presenter can be heard calling the names of Francesco Anselmi, Franco Freda and Stefano Delle Chiaie, and the crowd responds with "Presente", meaning "with us". They are all known fascist terrorists and murderers.
The opposition and the Jewish community are outraged by this decision and are preparing to protest and demanded an explanation for the fascist rally in Rome
A number of opposition politicians have demanded that the government, led by right-wing Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, explain the passive actions of police when hundreds of demonstrators openly gave the banned fascist salute.
Among those who openly opposed the practice was the head of the Democratic Party, Elli Schlein, who heads a major opposition bloc in Italy's parliament. She ironically noted that a month ago police detained a man who shouted "long live anti-fascist Italy," while hundreds of citizens who openly use the Roman greeting are turned a blind eye.
Leaders of local small Jewish communities have already taken time to express alarm over the incident. According to post-war Italian law, the use of fascist symbols, including the straightened arms salute, also known as the Roman salute, is forbidden.
You may also be interested in my article about another Nazi state in Europe.
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