A preliminary hearings judge
on Thursday shelved charges of apology of Fascism for the former
owner-operator of a so-called 'Fascist' beach establishment at
Sottomarina di Chioggia near Venice.
The allegedly pro-Fascist slogans at the beach club formerly
run by lifeguard Gianni Scarpa were found to be covered by
Italy's Constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Venice prosecutors last month asked that the case against the
beach club near the lagoon city be dropped.
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 Scarpa over
allegedly 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.
Scarpa was initially 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 had signs describing toilets as gas chambers
and saying they were "for him, for her, for lesbians and gays".
It also featured 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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