Italian parliament approves anti-terrorism law

An anti-terrorism decree providing tougher measures against those considered dangerous for national security was transformed into law in Italy on Wednesday following final approval of the Senate.

The new package had been first introduced last February in the aftermath of the deadly terror attacks in Paris and provides tougher jail terms for the so-called "foreign-fighters" and "lone wolves."

In Italy decrees introduced by the government are immediately implemented, but need parliamentary approval within 60 days in order to become law.

Based on the new law, those found guilty of trying to go abroad to join the Islamic State (IS) forces or recruiting other "foreign-fighters" would face a sentence up to eight years in jail which increases to up to 10 years for "sole wolves" who train in Italy with the goal to carry out terror attacks here.

Tighter controls will be implemented on the web and police will be also allowed to use wiretapping to monitor the exchanges of information and materials via phone or the Internet.

The package enables the local intelligence service to increase preventive measures. As such, it will be possible to make investigations inside the Italian jails to impede the recruiting of terrorists.

As part of the newly-approved law, the government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced that 300 soldiers starting from June would join the 3,000 military personnel already deployed throughout the country.

Prevention measures to protect fishing boats and merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea have been also strengthened, with the government allocating more than 40 million euros (42.5 million U.S. dollars) for an operation dubbed "Safe Sea" which includes employment of patrol ships and aircraft.

A total of 32 people linked somehow to Islamic terrorism have been expelled from Italy since last December, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said in a statement released at the end of last week. Endit