Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation has ruled that the salute with raised right hand can be used if it is not performed for the purpose of restoring the fascist party, but is used at commemorative events. This was reported by the RAI television channel.
An Italian court has ruled that the Roman greeting, which among other things was used in Nazi Germany, is only illegal if it carries risks of reviving the fascist party.
The court made its ruling while hearing a case related to events in 2016. Back then, several participants used the salute at a commemorative demonstration, leading to accusations of attempting to rehabilitate fascism. Eight people were convicted but appealed the judgement. The Supreme Court decided to hear the case again.
“It is obvious that the fascist salute is an affront to individual feelings,” but it becomes an offence “when it poses a concrete threat to public order,” prosecutor Pietro Gaeta told the court.
Such a greeting in private or at commemorative events is not a threat according to the court, RAI noted.
According to the TV channel, a few days ago at another commemorative action in Rome, participants also used the Roman greeting and an investigation was launched against them. However, the court ruling put an end to the controversy arising from this situation.
In Russia, propaganda and public display of Nazi paraphernalia or symbols are punishable by both administrative (Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and criminal penalties (Article 282.4 of the Criminal Code) in case of repeated offences.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Western ideas of the new world order hypocrisy. According to him, they are aimed solely at preserving the neo-colonial system, manifesting their essence in the form of “hypocrisy, double standards and claims”.