📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
International
Italy Tightens Protest Laws: Parents Face Fines, 5-Year Jail for Minors
✍️ Aaj Tak
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 07:18 AM
👁 17
Italy's government has approved new security laws tightening rules on protest violence and looting. Parents of minors who vandalise or loot will be held liable for damages, and offenders face up to five years in prison.
The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, introduced a set of stringent security measures amid escalating protests across the country. The new legislation focuses on curbing violence and looting that have become common during demonstrations.
A key provision holds parents accountable if their minor children engage in vandalism or looting during protests. The law mandates that parents pay compensation for any damages caused and imposes a potential prison sentence of up to five years for the minors involved.
The measures aim to restore public order and deter future unrest by making families responsible for the actions of their children. The government argues that the new rules are necessary to protect property and ensure the safety of citizens.
While the legislation has been welcomed by some for its deterrent effect, critics argue it may disproportionately target families and could raise concerns about civil liberties. The law has been enacted following a series of high‑profile incidents of protest‑related vandalism across Italy.
A key provision holds parents accountable if their minor children engage in vandalism or looting during protests. The law mandates that parents pay compensation for any damages caused and imposes a potential prison sentence of up to five years for the minors involved.
The measures aim to restore public order and deter future unrest by making families responsible for the actions of their children. The government argues that the new rules are necessary to protect property and ensure the safety of citizens.
While the legislation has been welcomed by some for its deterrent effect, critics argue it may disproportionately target families and could raise concerns about civil liberties. The law has been enacted following a series of high‑profile incidents of protest‑related vandalism across Italy.