Journalist Fined 5,000 Euros For Posting A Joke On Georgia Meloni's Height
A Milan court has ordered a journalist, Giulia Cortese, to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni damages of 5,000 euros (Rs. 4.5 lakh) for making fun of her on a social media post, said local media. Cortese was also given a suspended fine of 1,200 euros for a jibe on X, in October 2021 about Meloni’s height, which was defined as “body shaming”.
Responding to Reuter’s report on the Italian court’s verdict, Cortese wrote the country has a “serious problem” with freedom of expression and journalistic dissent. The days are bad for independent journalism, and Italy is getting closer to Orbán’s Hungary, she added.
Meloni sought legal actions against the journalist after the two women locked horns on social media platform three years ago.
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Meloni responded to her picture posted by Cortese. The latter published a mocked-up picture of the Italian Prime Minister with late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the background. She further tweeted that, “you don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall. I can’t even see you”.
Georgia Meloni’s height is given to be between 1.58 m and 1.63 m on various media websites.
The journalist can appeal against the sentence. Meloni’s lawyer said that the Prime Minister would donate to charity any damages she eventually receives.
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Taking to X, Cortese said “it was a tough time for independent journalists in Italy”. “Let’s hope for better days ahead. We won’t give up!” she added.
Reporters Without Borders said that a high number of lawsuits against journalists were brought in this year. It relegated Italy five places to 46th in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
Georgia Meloni is not new to taking journalists to court. Last year a Rome court fined best-selling author Roberto Saviano 1,000 euros plus legal expenses after he allegedly insulted her on television in 2021 over her hardline stance on illegal immigration.
