Israeli, anti-regime Iranian marchers forced out of Bologna Pride amid 'Zionists out' chants

Israeli and anti-regime Iranian participants were reportedly subjected to intimidation and physical shoving at the Bologna Pride parade on Sunday, with chants of "Zionists out of the march" and "Free Palestine" echoing through the crowd. The group, which included a Jewish woman wearing a rainbow flag with a Star of David and an Iranian photographer carrying a pre-1979 Iranian flag, was allegedly prevented from continuing in the procession.

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Within twenty seconds, we were intimidated and, amid chants of “Zionists out of the march,” we were prevented from continuing through violent shoving and coordinated pushing.

The Radical Party, an Italian political movement involved in the incident, claimed that "within twenty seconds, we were intimidated and, amid chants of 'Zionists out of the march,' we were prevented from continuing through violent shoving and coordinated pushing." The party also stated that the Iranian photographer was told, "We don’t care about Iran," and was forced to leave. Videos posted by the Radical Party appeared to show the protesters unable to advance as others yelled slogans.

This incident follows a pattern of exclusion for Jewish and Israeli protesters at Italian Pride events. The organizing committee of Rome Pride had previously decided to exclude the Jewish LGBTQ association Keshet Italia from an upcoming event due to its refusal to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide. The Radical Party highlighted the increasing isolation faced by Jewish LGBTQ communities globally due to rising antisemitism.

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We don’t care about Iran

Israel's Ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, condemned the Bologna incident as "an unacceptable act and contrary to the values of equality, freedom, and inclusion." He contrasted it with an event in Tel Aviv where he said thousands of people of different faiths marched together in respect.

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With the exponential rise of antisemitism over the past two years, Jewish LGBTQ communities around the world have increasingly found themselves isolated, challenged, discriminated against, and forced to confront attempts at exclusion.

However, organizers of the Bologna Pride March denied that violence occurred. They stated that "the provocation by six supporters of Israel was peacefully and unanimously rejected by all participants of the march." They emphasized that "one of the fundamental pillars of pride is the condemnation of genocide, the support for the fight for human rights for all."

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An unacceptable act and contrary to the values of equality, freedom, and inclusion.