Italian Lawmaker Suspended After Wearing T-shirt With Image Of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Adolf Hitler

An Italian lawmaker has been sanctioned in the European Parliament after wearing a controversial T-shirt during a plenary session two weeks ago. The T-shirt had an image of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Adolf Hitler.

Gianluca Buonanno also wore a Hitler-style moustache and gave a Nazi salute during a debate while Merkel was present. The Italian lawmaker has been fined 3,060 euros ($3,378), and he has been suspended from parliament activities for 10 days. The assembly released a statement Tuesday and confirmed the suspension. Buonanno, though suspended for 10 days, is eligible for casting his vote.

According to AP, Polish deputy Janusz Korwin-Mikke suffered similar sanctions after he had given a Nazi salute in the assembly in July. He referred to Middle Eastern refugees, who arrived in Europe, as "human garbage."

The Nazi salute, also known as "the Hitler salute," was used in Hitler’s Germany. It was used in rallies where the master of ceremonies would shout "Sieg" (Victory), and thousands in attendance would respond with the salute and "Heil," according to the Jewish Book Council.

Earlier in October, The Mirror reported about Darran Murray, a children’s care worker, who was terminated after allegedly making a Nazi salute during disturbances after Scotland's independence referendum. The man was also accused of assaulting a police officer in Glasgow’s George Square in September 2014. The 38-year-old started working as a bus driver after having been sacked from his job.

An Austrian soccer player was earlier suspended after he had worn socks with 88 drawn on those. According to far-right circles, 88 refers to HH or "Heil Hitler." While the player did not comment on the suspension, his coach said the player was wearing his lucky number, and it had nothing to do with Nazism, The Local reported.