Special Tribunal for the Defense of the State

The Special Tribunal for the Defense of the State was an Italian organization established by the Fascist regime under Benito Mussolini. It was created to prosecute anti-Fascist "subversives". This tribunal was part of a broader crackdown on dissent, which included disbanding opposition parties and unions, abolishing elections, and suppressing free speech.1

The tribunal had the power to imprison or exile thousands of political opponents. It also imposed 31 death penalties. The regime used a vast network of spies, known as OVRA, to monitor and suppress opposition both within Italy and abroad. The Fascist regime eventually collapsed in 1943, leading to the dissolution of its institutions, including the Special Tribunal.12