In 2017, antisemitic stickers featuring a photoshopped image of Anne Frank wearing a Roma shirt were plastered in Rome.
This prompted the Rome prosecutor’s office to launch an investigation against members of the Irriducibili, the leading group of Lazio ultras at the time, led by the infamous Diabolik.
After a prolonged preliminary hearing, the judge ordered the indictment of twelve Lazio ultras. During the initial investigation, two minors were also arrested, the youngest being only 13 years old. Prosecutor Francesco Caporale deemed the photomontage denigrating and mocking, not just towards Giallorossi fans but primarily towards the Jewish community.
The Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) became a civil party in the trial, represented by lawyers Cesare Gai and Francesco Scaccia. They commented, “Surely everything will expire, but it was important that in the preliminary hearing phase the need to hold a judgment was at least certified. It was important that this very serious matter did not end with no proceeding.”
The trial underscores the ongoing battle against antisemitism and the importance of legal actions to address hate crimes.
