The Case of Karem Rohana
Defending Freedom of Expression in Italy
At StraLi, we have joined forces with attorney Michela Arricale and the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) to support Karem Rohana, an Italian-Palestinian activist who has spent years advocating for Palestinian issues through public and digital platforms.
Before and after the attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza, Rohana’s activities were met with legal actions from prominent public figures, including Florence mayoral candidate Sara Funaro, Mayor Dario Nardella, Honorary Israeli Consul in Florence Marco Carrai, and La Repubblica director Maurizio Molinari.
The Florence Chief of Police, responding swiftly to separate complaints by Funaro and Nardella, issued formal warnings to Rohana, alleging his public criticism of their support for Israel constituted harassment.
We have formally requested the Florence Chief of Police to annul these warnings, arguing that Rohana was denied an opportunity to defend himself during the administrative process. This procedural flaw, particularly regarding police warnings, has recently been criticized by the European Court of Human Rights. Rohana was unable to refute false accusations or assert that his comments were protected under Article 21 of the Italian Constitution, which safeguards freedom of criticism. Despite several months passing since our annulment requests, the Chief of Police has not responded.
Additionally, La Repubblica director Maurizio Molinari filed a defamation lawsuit in the Milan Tribunal, seeking a court order for Rohana to remove specific online statements. These included Rohana’s claims regarding Molinari’s alleged alignment with Netanyahu and his purported support for Israeli actions in Gaza.
In its ruling (No. 2246/2024) issued on March 18, 2024, the Milan Tribunal found that most of Rohana’s statements regarding Israel’s actions fell within his right to criticize. The judge also cited a recent International Court of Justice decision in The Hague, which acknowledged the plausibility of genocide allegations against Israel.
However, the court deemed one of Rohana’s statements—alleging that Molinari was notorious for plagiarizing books—potentially defamatory. Consequently, Rohana was ordered to remove the video containing this statement, bear the cost of publishing the court order in La Repubblica, and pay €2,700 in legal expenses. StraLi, in collaboration with ELSC and attorney Arricale, is preparing an appeal against this decision.
The Milan Tribunal’s ruling represents an important precedent for freedom of expression and criticism, particularly amidst an increasing trend of legal actions aimed at silencing dissent. StraLi remains committed to defending freedom of expression in this case, using it as a foundation for systemic change and resisting abuses of public authority.
Rohana’s activism and moral contributions have also faced attacks within institutional political forums. During a Florence City Council session on December 19, 2023, Councilman Cocollini accused Rohana of harassing Councilor Funaro and Consul Carrai, both members of the Jewish community. Cocollini even labeled Rohana, who was absent, as a “stalker.” These accusations were later disseminated through the Florence Municipality’s website and local media outlets.
Such severe allegations prompted StraLi to pursue legal action. We filed a defamation complaint with the Florence Public Prosecutor, citing the serious harm caused by disseminating false, defamatory statements in public forums. This legal action seeks to protect Rohana’s dignity and safeguard freedom of expression, particularly when it is threatened by public officials, who hold responsibilities to the broader community. The complaint has led to an ongoing investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Together with ELSC, we continue to support this case to ensure that attempts to misuse criminal law to stifle legitimate activism are identified and prevented.