The Senate on Wednesday
approved a bill harshening penalties for Holocaust denial with
234 votes in favor, three nays and eight abstaining.
The draft measure, which now goes to the Lower House,
amends a 1975 law against hate crimes upping jail terms by three
years if propaganda and public instigation to commit acts of
racial discrimination are based - entirely or in part - on the
denial of the Holocaust, of crimes against humanity or war
crimes.
Members of the Italian Jewish community expressed
satisfaction for the vote.
The president of Rome's Jewish community, Riccardo
Pacifici, said he was "moved.
"This isn't a great day just for Jews and survivors but for
all Italians", he noted in a statement.
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