Venice prosecutors on Wednesday
asked that a case against a so-called 'Fascist beach' near the
lagoon city be dropped, citing lack of evidence.
The prosecutors said they thought the various pro-Fascist
elements on the beach were just a manifestation of the owner's
"thinking" and not a full-blown apology of Fascism which is
punishable under a postwar law.
In July Venice investigators began probing the owner of a
beach establishment at the nearby resort of Chioggia over
pro-Fascism signs.
Rightwing populist Northern League (LN) leader Matteo Salvini
condemned the move, saying "people should be allowed to carry on
with their daily work".
The probe came after reports of images sympathetic to Fascism
and Benito Mussolini at Chioggia's Playa Punta Canna
establishment caused a furore.
The establishment's owner, Gianni Scarpa, was ordered to
"abstain from the further release of messages against
democracy".
Partisans association ANPI was among those calling for the
licence of 64-year-old Scarpa, who allegedly gave Fascist-like
speeches at the venue, to be revoked.
The beach club has signs describing toilets as gas chambers
and saying they were "for him, for her, for lesbians and gays".
It also features images of Mussolini and quotes from some of
his speeches.
Scarpa used a trademark Fascist remark, "Me ne frego" (I
don't give a damn) to describe the row.
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