Italy's Government Has Criminalised Public Raves

Italy's new reactionary government has banned public raves.

The new government with far-right PM Giorgia Meloni has made it a crime to stage an unlicensed public rave after shutting one down in Northern Italy hours earlier.

The crime is an "invasion for dangerous gatherings" of more than 50 attendees, with people who throw raves facing up o six years of jail. The new law also means that rave organisers may also be wiretapped.

The trigger for the crime was after a warehouse rave in Modena on Monday was shut down. Residents had complained about 48 hours of thumping techno music that attracted punters all the way from Belgium and France. 

The law reflects similar ones across Europe, but suggests that unlike other states, Italy would not be relaxed about the laws. 

The previous government had attempted to change the law in 2021 after a rave in Virterbo saw the death of two people.

Criticism has come far and wide for the crackdown, with many commenting on why the government targeted party goers when other mass, public gatherings were taking place, including a weekend rally in Predappio hosted 2000 supporters gather to celebrate dictator Mussolini. The rally included fascist salutes and hymns and was on the anniversary of the start of fascist rule 100 years ago.