Italy: 7 associated with anti-Semitic "Holywar" website charged with racial discrimination

The site is still online, urging Christian holy war against Jews

After a lengthy investigation, seven people associated with the anti-Semitic website Holywar were charged this week with racial discrimination and defamation against a long list of public figures including Pope Francis. 

The suspects “depicted the pontiff in photoshopped images dressed as a bearded Orthodox Jew waving the Israeli flag with a swastika at the center of the Star of David,” said the Italian news agency ANSA. Other targeted figures included Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi and the actor Roberto Benigni, who won an Oscar for his film “Life Is Beautiful,” set during the Holocaust.

More: JTA