Measures to protect the “free profession of a religious faith ” in Italy were included today indraft revisions of the Italian penal code prepared for consideration by the Italian Cabinet.
The proposed measures provide prison sentences on conviction for attempts “to prevent others from professing a religious faith either in public or in private” or to attempt by force or threats of force to compel anyone to perform acts in violation of their religious beliefs.
These measures represent an innovation as there is no existing law covering this area. They were incorporated in widespread revisions of the Italian penal code known as the Codice Rocco. which was promulgated during the Mussolini regime. About one-fifth of the code is subject to revision.
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