Senate OKs Holocaust negation measure (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, May 3 - The Senate on Tuesday approved a bill introducing negation of the Holocaust as an aggravating circumstance into the penal code. The motion passed with 134 in favor, 14 against and 36 abstaining. The aggravating circumstance must constitute a "proven danger of dissemination" and if that is the case, becomes punishable with between two and six years in prison.
    The norm approved today amends an existing 1975 law condemning Nazi ideology and incitement to hate crimes based on racial, religious, or any other kind of discrimination. It makes Holocaust negation punishable with two to six years in prison "if the propaganda - i.e. the instigation or incitement committed in such a way as to create a concrete danger of dissemination - is founded all or in part on the negation of the Holocaust or the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes as defined by Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)" in The Hague. Senators from Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italia (FI) party boycotted the vote while those from the rightwing, anti-immigrant Northern League abstained.
    The bill now returns to the Lower House.