LP Sponsors Seminar on Anti-Semitism in Italy

Lawfare Project, Together with the Solomon-Observatory on Discrimination, Holds Seminar on Anti-Semitism for Italian Government Officials

On Tuesday, February 14th, the LP, together with the Solomon-Observatory on Discrimination, hosted the “Contemporary Anti-Semitism Conference: Violation of Universal Human Rights of Freedom of Religion and Belief” at the Center for American Studies in Rome.

The event was a very successful seminar on anti-Semitism, intended to educate Italian government officials on why the EU’s working definition of anti-Semitism must be adopted. The working definition’s author, Mark Weitzman, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance committee on anti-Semitism, as well as professors and legal experts from various universities, presented to the audience. More than 100 people came to hear the presentation, of various faiths and backgrounds, and many walked away persuaded that official adoption was an important step for Italy. For the first time ever, a member of the Italian government, Undersecretary of Justice Hon. Gennaro Migliore, stated unequivocally that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism.

The event was covered in Italian media outlets including Il Foglio, Agenparl and AnsaMed.

Solomon-Observatory on Discrimination will soon draft a request to the Italian Parliament, asking them to officially adopt the working definition in Italy. This same definition has already been adopted by the European Parliament, as well as Canada and the U.S. Department of State. Having a recognized definition of anti-Semitism will allow Italian law enforcement and government agencies to be vigilant in ensuring that anti-Semitic acts are prosecuted and punished, and will allow Jewish and Zionist members of Italian society protection against discrimination based on their religion and national origin.