Six alleged members of the extremist group known as Ordine Ario Romano are to stand trial in Rome on charges of racist propaganda and incitement to racial, ethnic and religious hatred. Among them is Francesca Rizzi, widely known online as “Miss Hitler”.
The preliminary hearings judge at the Tribunal of Rome has ordered the defendants to face trial on 4 June. Prosecutors allege that the group engaged in organised propaganda and incitement to commit crimes motivated by racial and religious discrimination.
The six individuals committed for trial are Francesca Rizzi, Luigi Petricca, Gregory Rossi, Remo Governatori, Piersimone Volpe and Mario Marras. They form part of a wider group of twelve people initially investigated by prosecutors in the capital.
Three other defendants opted for a fast-track procedure and were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with suspended sentences. A further three reached plea agreements, receiving sentences ranging from seven months to one year and six months.
Civil parties in the proceedings include the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI), and Senator for Life Liliana Segre, a survivor of the Holocaust.
According to prosecutors, the group disseminated racist and antisemitic content via social media platforms and private WhatsApp groups. Messages allegedly included calls for violence against Jewish people and migrants, as well as the spread of Holocaust denial theories claiming that gas chambers never existed.
Investigators from the Carabinieri’s Special Operations Group (ROS) launched the inquiry in November 2019. The investigation led to the dismantling of the group in June 2021. Members ranged in age from 26 to 62 and were based in several Italian regions, from Lazio to Sardinia.
Among the material cited in court documents are statements advocating the elimination of Jewish people and violent rhetoric directed at migrants and religious minorities. Prosecutors argue that the communications went beyond offensive speech and constituted criminal incitement under Italian law.
Francesca Rizzi, 41, originally from Pozzo d’Adda near Milan, became known in 2019 after winning an online “Miss Hitler” contest reportedly hosted on the social network VK. On social media, she allegedly displayed imagery associated with National Socialism, including swastika tattoos and references to the Third Reich.
Investigators also claim that members of the group expressed support for extremist political narratives and discussed the creation of a nationalist movement.
The forthcoming trial will determine whether the defendants’ online activities amount to criminal propaganda and incitement under Italy’s laws against racial hatred and discrimination.
The case has drawn national attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about the spread of extremist ideologies through encrypted messaging services and social media platforms.
