Kanye West Accused of Breaking Anti-Terror Laws in Italy
Renowned rapper Kanye West is facing further controversy as he stands accused of violating Italy’s anti-terror laws. The allegations stem from West’s practice of wearing a face mask in public settings within the European nation.
Under Italy’s anti-terror and public order legislation, the use of any item that obstructs an individual’s identification in a public place or an area open to the public, without a justifiable reason, is strictly prohibited. The offence carries a penalty ranging from €1,000 to a maximum of €2,000. Article 533 of Italian law, the provision under which Kanye West has been cited, was enacted in 1977 with the intention of combatting domestic terrorism.
This legislation gained added strength following a series of terrorist acts with Islamic links that occurred in the country in 2005. As a response to these incidents, regulations were introduced banning the use of crash helmets and full face coverings.
Exceptions to the prohibition are permitted only for religious purposes, provided individuals obtain written documentation from local authorities in advance.
This recent development concerning Kanye West adds to a growing list of issues he and his wife, Bianca Censori, have generated during their extended stay in Italy.
In the previous month, the couple faced complaints when Censori was observed in public attire that many deemed as “virtually naked,” leading local Italians to call upon the police for intervention.
Shortly thereafter, West and Censori came under intense scrutiny when photographs and videos emerged showing them in a seemingly compromising situation on a boat in Venice.
In the images, Kanye West’s pants can be seen lowered below his waist, exposing his bare buttocks, while Censori is positioned with her head in his lap in a suggestive manner.
This “indecent” behaviour resulted in a lifetime ban from the boat rental company for the couple and initiated an official investigation by Italian authorities.
A police source in Venice commented on the incident, stating, “There are standards of public decorum that have to be followed by tourists and locals alike, and any breaches are severely punished. The images of West with his trousers down while in a taxi as he and his partner crossed the lagoon were seen all over the globe. You could clearly see his trousers were half down, and we have received complaints from people who witnessed it. Now we have identified the driver of the boat, and we will be asking him what he saw as well.”
