Police in Brescia, Italy are accused of subjecting female climate activists to degrading treatment during a protest crackdown.
Seven women from environmental and human rights groups Extinction Rebellion and Last Generation claim they were forced to remove their underwear and perform squats during police questioning after a demonstration on Monday, The Guardian reported.
In a video shared online, Elisa Francescatti described the incident, saying, "They asked me to undress, take off my underwear, and do three squats, 'for checks,' according to them." She claimed the searches targeted women exclusively and were not performed on the male protesters.
Another activist corroborated the account, raising concerns about the necessity of such measures, which are typically reserved for suspects in serious crimes like drug trafficking. Authorities detained 22 activists for about seven hours, later charging them with "seditious gathering" and holding an "unannounced demonstration."
Initially denying the accusations, Brescia police later stated that female officers conducted the searches and instructed the women to "bend down on their legs" to check for dangerous objects. They insisted proper procedures were followed and the activists' dignity was respected.
Green-Left Alliance and Democratic Party leaders in Italy are calling for an investigation into Brescia police conduct, citing a similar case in Bologna and warning that such actions reflect a government aiming to "criminalize dissent." The seven women reportedly plan to file formal complaints.
Italy is currently debating a bill to criminalize disruptive protests. If enacted, protestors could face up to two years in jail for blocking roads or railways.
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