Meloni’s crackdown on street protests raises concerns about growing repression in Italy – POLITICO

Since then, the government has made it easier to jail teenagers, pregnant women and mothers with newborn children, introduced automatic detention for migrants and restricted reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights by allowing pro-life organizations into abortion clinics, banning surrogacy and requiring birth certificates. refuse for the children of homosexual parents.

The Antigone Association, which defends the rights of incarcerated people, said: “The government has decided to tackle social issues in the most illiberal way possible, using the criminal justice system, instead of (using) dialogue and resources , which you would expect in criminal law. a democracy with the rule of law.”

Before the introduction of the security law last week, Meloni stated that security is her top priority. Molteni said the reason for this is that security is “the prerequisite for growth and investment” and protects the elderly and vulnerable.

But Amnesty International’s Riccardo Noury ​​​​told POLITICO that last week’s bill reinforces the maxim that “to provide security, you have to give up rights.”

Environmental protesters are particularly tormented by the government, which has repeatedly branded campaigners “eco-vandals” and used Italy’s powerful anti-mafia investigative powers to keep tabs on activists. Giacomo Baggio of climate protest group Last Generation is facing an 8 p.m. to 7 p.m. curfew and a two-year ban from leaving his residence pending a hearing in October after filing a complaint against police for assault during a protest .

Lara Ghiglione, secretary of the CGIL union, said the government is unable to respond to the real needs of citizens, but is instead introducing repressive measures that indicate an “authoritarian drift.”