Highlights
- Kanye West is reportedly violating Italy’s anti-terror laws by wearing a full-face covering in public, which obstructs his identification.
- Violators of this law may face fines of up to 2,000 Euros, and Kanye has likely not obtained the necessary authorization for religious exemption.
- This legal controversy is not the first for Kanye and his partner Bianca, as they previously sparked a police investigation for their inappropriate behavior on a water taxi in Venice.
Kanye West is causing legal problems in Italy once again, as a new report claims he’s violating the country’s’ anti-terror laws with his unusual head coverings as he continues to travel abroad the with his partner Bianca Censori.
While the couple spent six weeks in Italy recently, the rapper was spotted wearing a black facial mask in Venice, Florence, and most recently in Milan, where they made an appearance at Fashion Week.
Kanye’s Mask Is A Legal Problem Because It Hides His Identity
However, the full-face covering is actually a problem under Italian laws. According to anti-terrorism and public order laws, it’s unlawful to wear any item that obstructs an individual’s identification. Violators may face a maximum fine of up to 2,000 Euros.
Specifically, Kanye appears to have violated Article 533, which was introduced in 1977 to combat domestic terrorism. In 2005, as a response to a series of Islamic-inspired attacks, this law was amended to prohibit the use of crash helmets and full-face coverings. Exceptions are made for religious purposes, but individuals must obtain written authorization from local authorities to be exempted, which Ye likely hasn’t done.
“It is forbidden to use any article which will hamper an individual’s identification, in a public place or in a that is open to the public, with a justifiable motive,” the law states, Daily Mail reports.
“The contravention of said article is punishable by a fine of 1,000 Euro up to a maximum of 2,000 Euro,” it continues.
Kanye And Bianca Already Sparked A Police Investigation
This isn’t the first legal controversy Kanye and Bianca have stirred in Italy recently. Earlier this month, it was reported the local police had launched an investigation after the couple were caught in a compromising position while riding a water taxi in Venice.
Paparazzi photos showed Bianca in a scantily clad outfit, kneeling in front of Ye in a suggestive pose. Moreover, Kanye had his bare butt exposed for onlookers, as his pants were pulled suspiciously low. Venezia Turismo Motoscafi, the boat rental company that supplied the couple with their boat, subsequently announced that Ye and Bianca are furthermore banned from using any of their boats in the future.
In their statement to the media, the company emphasized that their staff had no awareness of the rapper’s actions on board, which included exposing his rear by dropping his pants, until the photos became public last week.
“The driver had to keep a lookout for traffic and did not see these obscenities,” the statement said. “If this had happened, he would have immediately disembarked and reported the transgressors to those in authority.”
“We completely dissociate ourselves from such acts and behavior,” it continued. “Mr. West and his wife will certainly no longer be welcome on board our company’s boats.”
For now, it remains unclear if the police investigation against Bianca and Kanye remains underway. However, locals have begun demanding the pair face fines for public indecency given their PDA and risqué outfits, so what is clear is that the couple’s vacation remains a point of contention in Italy.
Source: NewsFinale
