Giulia Cecchettin: Protests and Vigils Held in Italy Over Slain 22-year-old

Thousands of people across Italy took part to vigils for Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old who disappeared along with her former boyfriend on 11 November.

Cecchettin’s body was found a week later on Saturday 18 November. It was at the bottom of a ravine, with at least 20 stab wounds. Her former boyfriend, Filippo Turetta, remained missing – but there was little doubt left that he was responsible for her death.

In the days following the disappearance, disturbing details about the relationship emerged. Turetta was described as jealous and possessive, and upset over the fact Cecchettin was poised to graduate earlier than him. A video also emerged, showing Turetta beating Checchettin before forcing her into his car and driving away on the late evening of 11 November. It is now believed he killed shortly afterwards and disposed of her body before fleeing.

Turetta was caught in Leipzig, Germany, the day after the body’s recovery. He had ran out of money for fuel, and his car stopped on a motorway. He was taken into custody and will be extradited to Italy to face trial.

A biochemical engineering student at the University of Padua, Giulia Cecchettin was set to hold her thesis discussion on 16 November. The university has announced that she will be awarded the degree posthumously.

Following the discovery of Cecchettin’s body, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, “We all wished Giulia was still alive, but sadly our worst fears came true. Killed. I feel great anger and sadness.”

The murder of Giulia Cecchettin brought the number of feminicides in Italy up to 102 in 2023 alone. Of these, 82 were carried out by someone the victim was close to. A total of 52 were carried out by the woman’s partner or former partner.

‘Burn It All Down’

Elena Cecchettin, the victim’s sister, has been vocal in connecting Giulia’s death to a culture of control and violence against women. She described feminicide as ‘State murder’ due to the lack of protection afforded to victims and called for more funding to anti-violence centres.

“Turetta is often described as a monster, but he’s not a monster,” she said in interviews. “A monster is an exception, a person who is outside society, a person for whom society doesn’t need to take responsibility. But there’s a responsibility. Monsters aren’t sick, they’re healthy sons of the patriarchy and rape culture.”

The Italian government has called for a minute of silence in Cecchettin’s memory, to be held at 11am on Tuesday. However, Elena has already stated she doesn’t want that to remember his sister.

“Don’t hold a minute of silence for Giulia,” she said. “Burn it all down.”

Stefano Valdegamberi, a regional councillor for Italy’s far right party Lega Nord, criticised the interview, describing Elena Cecchettin as “cold and apathetic”, her message as “ideology”, and her clothing as “satanist”, calling for an “investigation”. He has been widely criticised across the political spectrum, with calls for his resignation.

Elly Schlein, leader of the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, has called for lessons on respect and person relations in all schools, to “eradicate the toxic patriarchal culture of possession and control over women’s bodies and lives”.

More protests will be held, including one in Rome on 25 November – the International Day Against Gender Violence.

Do you want to keep up to date? If so, browse our other articles here.