A Milan court docket has ordered journalist Giulia Cortese to pay Italian High Minister Giorgia Meloni damages of €5,000 (roughly $5,400) for mocking her peak in a social media publish.
The incident, which befell in October 2021, used to be categorised as “body shaming” via the court docket. Along with the damages, Cortese won a suspended advantageous of €1,200 ($1,300) for her jibe on Twitter, now named X.
Cortese replied to the decision on X, writing, “Italy’s government has a serious problem with freedom of expression and journalistic dissent.” The prison combat between Meloni and Cortese started 3 years in the past when the 2 girls clashed on social media.
At that age, Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy birthday party used to be in opposition. Meloni initiated prison motion later Cortese revealed a mocked-up photograph of her with a picture of the past due fascist chief Benito Mussolini within the background.
Cortese escalated the status with additional tweets, together with one pointing out, “you don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. I can’t even see you.”
Media resources record Meloni’s peak as between 1.58 meters (5 toes 2 inches) and 1.63 meters (5 toes 4 inches). Cortese has the technique to attraction the sentence, and Meloni’s attorney indicated that any damages awarded could be donated to treasure.
Writing in English on X, Cortese commented at the difficult climate for distant newshounds in Italy, pointing out, “Let’s hope for better days ahead.
We won’t give up!” The prime selection of proceedings in opposition to newshounds in Italy used to be highlighted via Journalists With out Borders, which ranked the rustic forty sixth in its 2024 Global Press Liberty Index, a let go of 5 parks.
Meloni is understood for taking prison motion in opposition to newshounds. Extreme time, a Rome court docket fined best-selling creator Roberto Saviano €1,000 ($1,088) plus prison bills later he insulted her on tv in 2021 over her hardline stance on unlawful immigration.
