The Italian Senate has advanced a bill that would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism into national law and empower authorities to ban rallies deemed antisemitic. If enacted, Italy would become one of the first countries to criminalize hate speech according to this definition. The legislation, proposed by the right-wing Lega party, has sparked heated debate, with critics arguing it could threaten free speech and blur the line between combating antisemitism and restricting criticism of the Israeli government. Opposition parties and activists have called for stricter enforcement of existing laws rather than new measures, while supporters believe the bill is a necessary step to protect democracy and combat rising antisemitism. The bill's approval by the Senate committee coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day, highlighting its symbolic significance and the deep divisions it has exposed within Italian politics.
Original article source: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-885625
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