Roman Salute of 1,000 Activists Ruled as Homage, Not Crime by Milan Court

Milan: A Milan court has explained its decision to acquit 23 far-right activists involved in a Roman salute during a commemoration ceremony, determining that their actions did not constitute the promotion of Fascist ideology. The ruling, published on Monday, clarified that the gesture remained within the bounds of homage.

According to Ansa News Agency, the court’s decision stemmed from an event held on April 29, 2019, in memory of Sergio Ramelli, a far-right Youth Front militant killed by far-left militants in 1975. During the commemoration, an estimated 1,000 attendees gave the fascist salute, and the crowd responded with a chant of “present! present! present!” in a roll-call manner, which the court interpreted as an homage rather than a political statement.

On November 28, 2024, the court fully acquitted the defendants of charges related to “staging a Fascist demonstration.” The charges were based on the Scelba law, which prohibits actions that promote anti-democratic aims, glorify Fascist principles or leaders, or involve violence. The ruling followed new guidelines set by the supreme Cassation Court in April 2024, which directed judges to assess the “concrete danger of the reorganization of the Fascist party” when determining criminality.

Prosecutors had sought prison sentences ranging from two to four months for the activists, who are affiliated with far-right groups Lealt  Azione, Forza Nuova, and Casapound.