Fausto Gianelli is a criminal lawyer from Modena. But to call him that alone would be reductive. He is the provincial coordinator of the Democratic Jurists of Modena, a member of the ELDH Executive Committee, a leading exponent of Jurists and Lawyers for Palestine (GAP), and a leading figure in the BDS movement in Italy.

He signed a complaint to the International Criminal Court against Meloni, Tajani and Crosetto for allegedly participating in genocide in Gaza.

He has carried out missions as an international observer in Palestine, Turkey, the Middle East, Asia and South America.

Its customers

In December 2025, the Genoa DDA made nine arrests in the ‘Domino’ operation: a network accused of collecting funds for Hamas through humanitarian associations. Gianelli took on the defence of Adel Ibrahim Salameh Abu Rawwa, a real estate developer from Sassuolo who owned dozens of properties, and Riyad Abdelrahim Jaber Albustanji, from Bologna, co-defendant in the same case.
He obtained the release of both by criticising the evidence based on Israeli intelligence.
The link with Operation Domino is not circumstantial.

In 2020, he had already represented API and ABSPP – the two associations of Mohammad Hannoun, the main suspect in the operation and blacklisted by the US Treasury Department in 2024 for allegedly funding the military wing of Hamas – in the case against the RAI for calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

The Modenese network

Gianelli moves in the same circles as M5S deputy Stefania Ascari – from Modena, a criminal lawyer, active in the same campaigns. On 16 December 2025, Ascari convened a press conference in the Chamber of Deputies to call for the release of Anan Yaeesh, later sentenced to 5 years and 6 months for association with the purpose of terrorism, and Ahmad Salem, in prison for incitement to commit crimes and self-training.

In February 2026 Gianelli and Ascari were together at Sapienza in Rome to defend Hannoun. Journalist and activist Linda Maggiori completes the environment: she collaborates with Gianelli on BDS evenings, festivals and campaigns.

This is the lawyer that Salim El Koudri’s family has chosen as defence counsel

What are the odds that a schizoid, unemployed guy from Ravarino – with no known ties, no track record, no political network – would elect one of Italy’s top lawyers to defend those under investigation for financing terrorism? You be the judge.