Introduction

On 13 January 2025, 22 climate and human rights defenders were arrested in Brescia, Italy, following a non-violent protest at the premises of the weapons manufacturer Leonardo SpA. The demonstrators, linked to the Italian branch of Extinction Rebellion and to the groups ‘Ultima Generazione,’ and ‘Palestina Libera,’ had gathered to denounce Italy’s arms exports to Israel, which they argue are enabling the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Their subsequent arrest and degrading treatment in police custody have triggered strong criticism from United Nations Special Rapporteurs, who view the episode as part of a growing pattern of repression of activism in Italy.

The protest involved a symbolic action at Leonardo’s facility, a major Italian defence and aerospace company whose weapons and components have allegedly been exported to countries involved in armed conflicts, including Israel. According to the activists, Leonardo’s business ties with the Israeli military industry make it complicit in human rights violations in Gaza, particularly amid the intensification of Israeli attacks since late 2023.

Although the protest was peaceful and intended to draw public attention to Italy’s military exports, law enforcement responded by provisionally arresting and detaining the participants. Of the 16 protesters identified, several were prominent activists affiliated with national or local environmental and human rights movements. 

Degrading Treatment in Police Custody

It has been reported that the activists were detained for approximately seven hours at the Brescia Police Headquarters (Questura). According to the government, the individuals were taken in for identification and standard procedural checks, after which they were released. However, in a series of videos posted online, the detained women claim the police officers forced them to undress, remove their underwear, and perform three squats. This procedure was reportedly not applied to their male counterparts, raising serious concerns of gender-based discrimination. 

Such searches are typically reserved for individuals suspected of drug trafficking. They were reportedly carried out without individualised justification and in the absence of legal representatives, raising serious concerns about potential violations of their rights to dignity, privacy, and body integrity. 

According to international human rights law, body searches must comply with principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality. These strip searches may violate Articles 7 and 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protect individuals from degrading treatment and ensure respect for human dignity. Furthermore, the UN Committee Against Torture has repeatedly expressed concern over the use of such invasive procedures on peaceful protesters, particularly when applied in a gender-discriminatory manner. Italy’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) further require that all law enforcement practices be free from gender-based humiliation or intimidation.

The activists also reported being denied access to legal counsel and subjected to verbal intimidation. Phones were confiscated, and some were threatened with criminal charges. These accounts have been documented by human rights organisations, including Front Line Defenders, and formed the basis of a formal complaint filed with the Brescia public prosecutor on 7 April 2025. The complaint alleges that law enforcement has arbitrarily deprived individuals of their liberty and subjected them to degrading treatment, in violation of both Italian procedural law and international human rights standards. 

UN Special Rapporteurs' Communication

These allegations prompted the intervention of multiple United Nations Special Rapporteurs, who issued a joint communication to the Italian government (AL ITA 3/2025). The experts included mandate holders on the situation of human rights defenders, freedom of peaceful assembly, counter-terrorism and human rights, right to privacy, and the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order. These independent experts operate under the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and are tasked with monitoring and reporting on specific human rights issues or country situations. Although their communications are not legally binding, they serve as critical tools for accountability and international pressure. 

The communication expressed deep concern over the allegedly arbitrary arrest and degrading treatment in detention of peaceful demonstrators, and emphasised that the conduct of the Italian police may amount to a violation of the ICCPR, to which Italy is a party. The experts called on the government to provide detailed information about the legal basis for the arrests, the treatment of detainees, and the safeguards in place to ensure the rights of protestors are respected.

They also expressed concerns that these actions may reflect a broader pattern of repression against individuals and groups engaging in peaceful protest on issues such as climate justice and Palestinian rights. The communications situates the Brescia incident within an escalating context of criminalisation of protest in Italy, drawing attention to previous communications, including the case of Valentina Corona, a climate activist facing criminal charges for a non-violent protest (for more information, see here). That case has become emblematic of escalating legal and administrative pressure on environmental human rights defenders.

Italy’s Reply

In a formal response dated 28 May 2025, the Italian government defended the actions of the police, asserting that the arrests were carried out in accordance with Italian law and that the protest had been unauthorised and potentially posed risks to public order. The government also stated that the search procedures conducted at the Questura were standard and implemented to prevent the introduction of dangerous objects.

Italy acknowledged that the demonstrators were held in custody for approximately seven hours but denied that their rights were violated. It emphasised that the activists were released without charges, although some are still facing administrative fines for organising an unauthorized demonstration. Notably, Italy’s reply did not directly address the gender-specific allegations raised by the female activists, nor did it clarify why the squat and the strip search were applied exclusively to women.  

Conclusion

As of June 2025, the legal complaint filed in April remains under review by the Brescia prosecutor’s office. No disciplinary actions have been announced against the officers involved, and no formal inquiry has been launched to determine whether the search procedures were justified or proportionate. The activists continue to campaign for justice, arguing that their treatment exemplifies the increasing use of law enforcement to stifle peaceful dissent.