Ruffini Student Stopped in Prague for Fascist Greeting in Jewish Ghetto Sparks Outrage
Prague, April 2, 2025 – A 17-year-old Italian exchange student from Ruffini High School in Turin was detained by Czech police on Monday after allegedly performing a fascist salute in Prague’s historic Jewish Quarter, Josefov, near the Old-New Synagogue. The incident, captured on video by onlookers and widely shared on social media, has drawn sharp condemnation from local authorities, Jewish community leaders, and the public, reigniting debates over rising far-right sentiments in Europe.
The Incident Unfolds
The student, identified only as “G.M.” due to his minor status, was part of a school trip from Turin’s Liceo Scientifico Ruffini when the incident occurred around 3 p.m. local time. According to witnesses, G.M. raised his right arm in a gesture resembling the Nazi salute while standing outside the 13th-century Old-New Synagogue, a cornerstone of Prague’s Jewish heritage and one of Europe’s oldest active synagogues. The act took place in Josefov, once the city’s Jewish ghetto, a site steeped in history with the Old Jewish Cemetery and memorials to Holocaust victims.
A nearby tour guide, Jana Nováková, recorded the moment on her phone. “He shouted something in Italian and then did the salute—it was deliberate,” she told Czech TV. “People were stunned, then furious.” The video, showing G.M. laughing as peers urged him to stop, spread rapidly on X, where users labeled it “disgraceful” and “a slap to history.” Prague police intervened within minutes, detaining the teen for questioning after a crowd gathered, some shouting insults.
Legal and Diplomatic Fallout
Czech authorities charged G.M. with “promoting a movement aimed at suppressing human rights and freedoms,” a crime under Section 403 of the Czech Criminal Code tied to Nazi symbolism, punishable by up to three years in prison. Given his age, he was released to his teachers’ custody pending investigation, with Italian consular officials notified. “This behavior is unacceptable, especially in a place of such historical weight,” said Prague Police spokesperson Eva Kropáčová. “We are coordinating with Italian authorities.”
Italy’s embassy in Prague issued a statement calling the act “regrettable” and pledged cooperation, while Ruffini High School suspended G.M. and launched an internal review. Principal Laura Salmaso told La Stampa, “We’re horrified—this doesn’t reflect our values. We’ll ensure accountability.”
A Painful Echo in Josefov
The gesture struck a raw nerve in Josefov, where Jews faced centuries of persecution, including the 1389 pogrom that killed 3,000 and the Nazi deportation of over 80,000 Czech Jews to death camps. Tomas Kraus, head of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic, called it “an insult to the memory of Holocaust victims and survivors.” The synagogue, spared by Hitler as a twisted “museum” plan, remains a symbol of resilience—making the act, intentional or not, particularly provocative.
Posts on X reflected the outrage: “A fascist salute in Prague’s Jewish ghetto? In 2025? Shameful,” one user wrote. Others demanded Italy address its “fascist youth problem,” pointing to recent far-right marches in Rome.
Context and Controversy
The incident follows a surge in far-right activity across Europe, including Italy, where neo-fascist groups have gained traction since 2022. G.M.’s peers told police he “meant it as a joke,” but Czech officials dismissed the excuse, citing the location’s gravity. Italian media speculate he may have been influenced by online extremist content, a growing concern among educators. Ruffini’s history curriculum includes Holocaust studies, raising questions about how such behavior emerged from its students.
The teen’s family, reached by Corriere della Sera, claimed he’s “just a kid who made a mistake” and apologized, but public sentiment leans unforgiving. “Ignorance isn’t an excuse when you’re in a ghetto that saw so much pain,” Nováková countered on X.
What’s Next?
G.M. faces a potential trial in Prague, though juvenile leniency could reduce penalties to community service or a fine. The Italian Foreign Ministry is working to expedite his return home, but Czech law will dictate the pace. Meanwhile, Ruffini High School plans a Holocaust education seminar, and Prague’s Jewish Museum is urging schools to reinforce historical sensitivity.
As the video continues to circulate, the incident serves as a stark reminder of Europe’s unresolved fascist ghosts—and the power of place to amplify a gesture’s weight. For now, Prague’s Jewish Quarter stands as both witness and judge to a moment that’s left the world watching.
