Italian Journalist Ordered to Pay Damages for Mocking Prime Minister's Height
An Italian court has ordered journalist Giulia Cortese to pay 5000 in damages to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for mocking her height on social media, in what was defined as body shaming. Cortese, based in Milan, was also given a suspended fine of 1200 for the incident dating back to October 2021. The dispute arose after Cortese published a mocked-up photo of Meloni with the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in the background on Twitter. Although Cortese was acquitted over the tweet comparing Meloni to Mussolini, she was convicted of defamation for subsequent tweets where she referred to Meloni's height. Despite the court's decision, Cortese expressed concern over the limitations on her freedom to criticize the government, claiming a 'climate of persecution.' On the other hand, Meloni's lawyer mentioned that the 5000 in damages would be donated to charity once the sentence was confirmed. This legal action against journalists and public figures critical of the government is not new, as Meloni's administration has been accused of strategically using defamation suits to silence dissent. Notably, cases involving high-profile individuals like Roberto Saviano and Rula Jebreal have sparked controversy. The accusations of Meloni's government exerting influence over Italian media, including allegations of censorship on the state broadcaster Rai, have further fueled concerns about freedom of expression in the country.
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