A Milan court docket has ordered journalist Giulia Cortese to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni 5,000 euros (about $5,400) in damages for mocking her peak in a social media submit.
The court docket categorized the incident, which passed off in October 2021, as “bodily insult.” Along with damages, Cortez acquired a suspended fantastic of €1,200 ($1,300) for her Twitter submit, which has now been referred to as “X.”
Cortese responded to X’s ruling, writing: “The Italian authorities has a major problem with freedom of expression and journalistic dissent.” The authorized battle between Meloni and Cortese started three years in the past when the 2 girls clashed on social media.
On the time, Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy get together was in opposition. Meloni launched authorized motion after Cortese posted a doctored picture of her with an image of the late fascist chief Benito Mussolini within the background.
Ocasio-Cortez escalated the state of affairs with additional tweets, together with one which stated: “You do not scare me, Georgia Meloni. In spite of everything, you are solely 4 ft (1.2 meters) tall. I am unable to even see you.”
Media sources reported that Meloni’s peak ranges between 1.58 metres (5 ft 2 inches) and 1.63 metres (5 ft 4 inches). Cortes has the precise to enchantment the ruling, and Meloni’s lawyer indicated that any compensation awarded could be donated to charity.
In an article written in English on the X web site, Cortese commented on the tough surroundings going through unbiased journalists in Italy, saying: “Allow us to hope for higher days forward.
“We won’t hand over!” Reporters With out Borders highlighted the excessive variety of lawsuits towards journalists in Italy, rating the nation forty sixth within the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, down 5 locations.
Meloni is understood for taking authorized motion towards journalists. Final yr, a Rome court docket fined best-selling creator Roberto Saviano 1,000 euros ($1,088) plus authorized prices after he insulted her on tv in 2021 over her robust stance on unlawful immigration.
