A court in Italy has sentenced a journalist to pay damages equivalent to approximately 57,000 kronor after mocking Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's height on social media.
The dispute began after the journalist posted a montage image of Meloni with the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in the background. Meloni then asked her lawyer to take legal action, reports The Guardian.
Later that day, the journalist published two posts, including calling the Prime Minister "a little woman" and claiming she is 120 centimeters tall.
The journalist was acquitted for the Mussolini post, but was convicted for the other two posts, which the judge considers to be mocking her appearance.
Scandalous, says the journalist, who believes she was convicted because of a joke.
Meloni's lawyer says the damages will be donated to charity.
This is not the first time Meloni has taken legal action against critics. Last year, author Roberto Saviano was convicted of defamation after calling her a piece of crap due to her tough migration policy.
