Italian court orders journalist to pay EUR 5,000 in compensation to Meloni for harassment

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Reuters.

The court also decided to impose a deferred fine of EUR 1,200 on Cortese for harassing Meloni on social media platform X in October 2021.

The court recognised the journalist's harassment of Meloni as "body-shaming" (body-shaming is discrimination against a person based on external characteristics).

It is noted that Cortese published an edited photo of Meloni, whose right-wing party, the Brothers of Italy, was in position at the time, with the late fascist leader of Italy, Benito Mussini, in the background.

Cortese also posted a number of posts on the social network, including one that translates as "You don't scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you're only 1.2 metres tall. I can't even see you".

Read also: Zelensky discusses air defense for Ukraine with Meloni

However, various media websites list Maloni's official height as between 1.58 and 1.63 metres.

Cortese can still appeal the verdict, and Meloni's lawyer said that the prime minister would donate any compensation she eventually receives from the journalist to charity.

As Ukrinform reported, in April 2023, Dominic Raab resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of the United Kingdom after an investigation into allegations of bullying.