Cecilia Parodi case

ITALY

 A Major Victory for IJL in Its Fight Against Antisemitism in Italy

On October 13, 2025, the Milan Court, presided over by the Hon. Dr. Luca Milani, convicted Ms. Cecilia Parodi of criminal offenses under a provision in the Italian Criminal Code which penalizes those who propagate ideas based on racial or ethnic superiority or hatred, or who incite or commit acts of discrimination on racial, ethnic, national, or religious grounds.

The conviction stems from a criminal complaint filed by the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (IJL) on September 27, 2024, following a series of virulent antisemitic statements made by Ms. Parodi – a well-known public figure and social media personality – against Holocaust survivor and Sentof for Life Liliana Segre. Among her remarks were repeated calls for violence and expressions of hatred against Jews, Israelis, and those defending them.

Represented by Adv. Cristina Franco, IJL initiated proceedings for incitement to racial hatred and discrimination, later joined by Adv. Luigi A. Florio in a civil action attached to the criminal case. On June 25, 2025, IJL President Adv. Meir Linzen formally joined the civil claim as a direct victim of the defendant’s conduct.

In its verdict, the Milan Court delivered both criminal and civil rulings:

· Criminal ruling: Ms. Parodi was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months of suspended imprisonment, subject to a five-year probationary period.

· Civil ruling: Ms. Parodi was ordered to pay compensation of more than €20,000 to the plaintiffs, IJL and Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), in addition to court costs and legal expenses.

This verdict represents an important precedent in Italy’s fight against antisemitism and hate speech, reaffirming that incitement to racial or religious hatred has no protection under the guise of free expression. IJL welcomes this ruling as a significant legal and moral step forward in strengthening accountability and safeguarding human dignity in Europe.

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motivated by racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination. The case is ongoing.