Cecilia Parodi charged for antisemitic hate speech

Cecilia Parodi, an Italian writer and pro-Palestinian activist, has been placed under criminal investigation in Milan on charges of “incitement to commit crimes motivated by racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination” and “aggravated defamation fueled by racial hatred.” The investigation follows a complaint filed by life senator Liliana Segre, a Holocaust survivor and prominent figure in the fight against antisemitism. The case centers around a video Parodi posted on Instagram in July, where she allegedly made antisemitic remarks directed at Segre.

According to the investigation, the video in question  also included inflammatory statements, such as “I hate all Jews, I hate all Israelis, to the first to the last,” “I want to see all of them hanging,” “I will be the first to spit on you.” These statements have led the Milan Prosecutor’s Office to consider charges of incitement to commit crimes alongside aggravated defamation.

In the same month of July, after the shocking video, Parodi participated in a conference in Naples where she expressed the hope that “Zionism would become illegal,” which was met with applause from the Mayor, Luigi De Magistris, and sparked significant controversy. Spokesmen from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia (FdI), have pointed out that Parodi was also invited to speak about “colonialism and apartheid in Palestine” at events organized by the youth wing of the Democratic Party (PD).

In a separate development, Marco Carrai, the Honorary Consul of Israel in Florence, also pressed for criminal charges against Parodi. Carrai, a well-known businessman emphasized the seriousness of her antisemitic rhetoric and called for legal action to be taken swiftly.

The growing conflation of anti-Zionism and antisemitism in Italy reflects a troubling shift, fueled by a massive media campaign and a rising pro-Palestinian sentiment within the left wing. This narrative, which blurs the line between political criticism and racial hatred, has gained alarming traction. Just a week ago, the New Communist Party and Palestinian organizations published a hit list targeting 150 prominent figures labeled as “Zionist agents” to be neutralized. Italy must confront this dangerous rhetoric head-on before it spirals into a full-blown revival of dark times.