In the last year we have seen an increase in a clampdown on anarchists, anarchist propaganda and a ramping up of anti-left-wing rhetoric and laws.
This clampdown on anarchists has specifically targeted those opposed to wars globally. In Greece, France (as detailed in our article here: https://anarcomuk.uk/2023/09/14/solidarity-with-french-comrades-against-state-repression-an-international-call-for-a-week-of-action/ ) and now Italy (see below).
This coupled with recent attacks by the right wing in the UK (even in the last week ex PM [pointless minister] Liz Truss has said that her failure was not her or her cabinet but the tofu eating left wing wokerati) that the problems in the UK are caused by left wing extremists and strikes, and this follows of the footsteps of Cruella Braverman’s attack on the left time and time again. This all comes along with various laws and proposed Acts outlawing protest, strikes and even criticism of the government.
The following was forwarded to use by our comrades in Tridna Valka (Class War):
We share on this place the solidarity call with the comrades from the anarchist fortnightly Bezmotivny, who are facing a trial in Italy for their antimilitarist activities (especially against the war in Ukraine).
In recent weeks, the four comrades under restrictive house arrest since Aug. 8 for Operation Scripta Scelera were notified of the decree setting the immediate trial and consequently the start of the trial at the Massa court, before the monocratic judge, next Jan. 9, 2024. A total of ten anarchists are involved in the investigation: in addition to the four under house arrest, there are five comrades under the obligation to stay overnight (one among them currently also under the obligation to sign) and one comrade under investigation at large.
For all of them, Federico Manotti, prosecutor of the Genoa Public Prosecutor’s Office, had requested arrest in prison for subversive association for the purpose of terrorism, incitement to commit a crime with the aggravating factor of the purpose of terrorism, clandestine printing, as well as only for some also offending the honor and prestige of the president of the republic — offenses allegedly consumed with the editing and distribution of the internationalist anarchist fortnightly “Bezmotivny.” The request for immediate trial concerns only the charges of aggravated incitement to commit a crime and insulting the honor and prestige of the president of the republic.
Recall that the immediate trial is a special procedure characterized by the absence of the preliminary hearing: in fact, it goes from the preliminary investigation to the trial hearing. This procedure is actionable only in the event that the prosecutor and the investigating judge, who must validate the request, believe they have overwhelming evidence of the suspect’s guilt and that he or she is in a state of detention (in prison or under house arrest).
In the recent past, the Rome prosecutor’s office had the tracotence to proceed with this formula in the context of Operation Bialystok, but this did not bring great luck to the inquisitors. Lately, the trial of comrade Marco Marino, known as Zac, has also been taking place under immediate trial.
However, this is the first time, as far as we can remember, that in the context of an anti-anarchist investigation the immediate trial is being triggered for only part of the suspects, breaking the investigation into several strands. This is an obvious attempt to sap solidarity and, above all, to quickly dismiss a part of the proceedings with a precedent that can be used in the future to plug the anarchist press.
Overall, the operation seems rather bungled. The hearing for the immediate trial has been set while the cassation hearing on precautionary measures (which will also concern the associative charge) has not yet taken place, with an unusual destination (the monocratic judge of a peripheral court) that could be declared incompatible during the course of the trial.
On the other hand, some of those indicted for editing the anarchist fortnightly will presumably be tried only later, as they will not be able to intervene at the time when issues that undoubtedly concern them (above all, the theoretical profile of the newspaper) will be discussed, ending up on trial with a previous sentence already handed down on the subject. Therefore, on this occasion too, the Genoa Investigative Judge chose to align himself with the prosecutor’s demands.
The story of “Bezmotivny” is a story of solidarity, of internationalism, of class struggle. The story of a newspaper that has never shied away from supporting imprisoned anarchists around the world and publishing claims. It spent itself in the solidarity movement with Alfredo Cospito, who, moreover, ended up in 41 bis regime also following a proceeding for incitement to commit crimes with the aggravating factor of the purpose of terrorism, the Sibilla operation (mainly inherent to “Vetriolo“).
Three comrades investigated in Scripta Scelera were also involved in Sibilla, and the Genoese prosecutor’s operation partially unfolded along the lines of the previous proceeding, so Scripta Scelera is aimed at consolidating as a repressive practice the precautionary measures with reference to the charges of aggravated incitement to commit crimes concerning revolutionary publications.
“Bezmotivny” has taken an uncompromising internationalist position against the war in Ukraine: against every state, starting with our own, for revolutionary defeatism, for the defeat of NATO. This repressive operation is an expression of the war policies of the Italian state.
That history is also our history. The technical acrobatics of an author-seeking magistrate will not be enough to make a course like this be judged and dismissed out of hand.
AGAINST CENSORSHIP, WE PERSEVERE IN AGITATION AND ANARCHIST PROPAGANDA!
AnarCom Network 