Protesters and UN Expert Challenge Italy’s Proposed Anti-Semitism Bill

ROME – Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Italian parliament on Wednesday to protest legislation that would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism into national law. The march coincided with a session of the Chamber of Deputies’ Constitutional Affairs Committee, which is currently reviewing the measure that the Senate approved by a large majority on March 4.

Under Italy’s constitutional framework, the bill must pass both chambers in identical form before becoming law. Protesters held black-and-yellow signs distributed by Amnesty International bearing the slogan, “Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism.”

Core to the controversy is the IHRA definition, which classifies denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination—such as by labeling the existence of Israel as a racist endeavor—as anti-Semitic. It also deems comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis as anti-Semitic. Critics argue this framework conflates legitimate political dissent with hatred.

“We are tired of seeing anti-Semitism instrumentalized to promote censorship of any kind of criticism of the State of Israel and its criminal policies,” said Daniel Calo, a member of Tikkun, an organization of Italian Jewish anti-racism activists. “In the face of this shameful bill, we reiterate once again, forcefully, that opposing Zionism is not anti-Semitism.”

Anneliese Baldaccini of Amnesty International Italy warned that if enacted, the law would extend across schools, universities, social media platforms, and cultural associations, effectively censoring political speech. Instead, activists are advocating for the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a non-binding guideline designed to combat anti-Semitism while safeguarding freedom of expression.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory and an Italian legal scholar, told Al Jazeera that the legislation poses a threat to free speech. “Any piece of legislation that directly or indirectly equates criticism of a state with anti-Semitism is problematic and risks creating more problems than it seeks to solve,” she said.

Albanese argued that the bill could hinder the ability to document and critique what she described as Israel’s apartheid system. She accused the Italian government of prioritizing Israel’s protection over accountability, stating, “The need to protect the State of Israel from criticism is stronger than the need to do justice.” She added that such laws risk painting every Jewish person globally as an emissary of the Israeli state.

Tony La Piccirella, a Palestine solidarity activist involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla, expressed concern that the bill provides legal tools to target newsrooms and digital platforms to silence those denouncing the war in Gaza. “It is extremely dangerous because every Jewish person in the world risks being seen as a kind of emissary of Israel,” Albanese noted.

However, the proposal has garnered significant support from Italy’s Jewish institutional leadership. Noemi Di Segni, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), testified before the Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee in January, describing legislative action against anti-Semitism as “urgent and unavoidable.” Born in Jerusalem and a former Israeli soldier, Di Segni has repeatedly rejected characterizations of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide, labeling terms such as “Nazi” and “apartheid” as unacceptable when applied to Israel.

The legislation has revealed fractures across the political spectrum. While the Senate passed the bill with broad opposition support, including six Democratic Party senators voting in favor despite the party’s official abstention, resistance remains strong in the Chamber. Stefania Ascari of the Five Star Movement, one of the bill’s most vocal opponents, addressed protesters prior to entering parliament.

“The greatest danger to Jews and to the entire world is the terrorist state of Israel,” Ascari said, accusing the measure of undermining freedom of expression, university autonomy, and the work of NGOs.

The Constitutional Affairs Committee concluded its proceedings without a vote or substantive examination. Its work is expected to resume next week, though the timeline remains unclear. The Chamber has scheduled a final plenary vote for October 2, leaving lawmakers with a narrow window to complete the legislative process.

Activists have vowed to continue their demonstrations outside parliament and in city streets to voice their opposition.