Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government is pushing a new security decree that targets non-violent protests and resistance to police. The legislation, dubbed “anti-Gandhi” by opposition parties, aims to criminalize peaceful forms of dissent.
The proposed law creates new criminal offenses, increases prison time, and harshly punishes actions such as road blockades and property damage during protests. It also allows police officers to carry weapons off duty without a license.
One controversial aspect of the decree is the criminalization of “passive resistance” in prisons and migrant reception centers. Female pickpockets, pregnant women, and women with young children could face prison time under the new rules.
The security decree has sparked outrage for various reasons, including ending the legalization of light cannabis and proposing chemical castration for rapists and pedophiles. The opposition, legal experts, and judiciary have raised concerns about the authoritarian nature of the legislation.
Meloni’s government faces strong criticism from multiple fronts, signaling a potential return to authoritarianism in Italy’s criminal law system if the decree is approved.
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