Italy's highest court ruled that telling a man he has "no balls" as an insult is a crime punishable with a fine because it hurts male pride in a ruling on a curious row between two cousins.
The case was brought to the supreme court by a lawyer named only as Vittorio against his cousin Alberto, a justice of the peace, for the phrase uttered during a heated courtroom exchange in the southern Italian city of Potenza.
"Apart from the vulgarity of the term used, the expression definitely also has an injurious quality," the male judge, Maurizio Fumo, said in his ruling as quoted by Italian news agency ANSA.
"It refers not only to the target's lack of virility but also to his weakness of character, lack of determination, competence and coherence -- virtues that, rightly or wrongly, are still identified as pertaining to the male gender."
The court also found that because the insult was uttered at the workplace with third parties present it could be seen as damaging Vittorio's reputation.
Vittorio's lawyer had argued that the expression implied that his client was "worth less than other men because he did not have the attributes."
A judge will now rule on the fine that Alberto should pay to Vittorio.
The ruling, which comes after years of legal dispute, did not specify whether any insults against women should now also be considered crimes.
22 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Alfred J. McEwen
Aug 15th 2012, 20:05
Alfred J. McEwen
I think that the insult is very appropriate,especially when it comes to certain politicians, all I can say is .. enjoy using the term as appropriate before political correctness well and truly sets in on this Island and then everyone has to keep his trap shut or else face the consequences. Freedom of speech is getting to be a very limited commodity these days, and one has to be careful how to express oneself verbally and the written word.
M. Zammit
Aug 1st 2012, 19:24
Interesting judgement... Come to think of it, we should refrain from insulting each other on any excuse as it infringes on a persons liberty etc... such as when you tell someone to go and do something to himself or his kin etc...
If not a crime per se it's bad manners at the least and not conducive to good relationships. Perhaps we should all be more tolerant with each other and by that I mean ..."don't make me insult you by you being more prudent, diligent, attentive etc!"
James Borg
Aug 1st 2012, 15:15
...time wasters!
D Vella
Aug 1st 2012, 13:50
Ha ha ha ha ha . . . Are these guys serious???
Charles Grixti
Aug 1st 2012, 12:32
Insults are not crimes. It is something humans have been saying to each other, starting as children, for centuries. This is something that Europeans are adopting from other cultures. Ridiculous.
Don Hughes
Aug 1st 2012, 12:02
It's a good job David Cameron (UK) is not Italian....he would make a fortune in damages.
m. borg (slm)
Aug 1st 2012, 12:41
Not to mention a couple of local MPs
Joseph M Scicluna
Aug 1st 2012, 15:30
in this case Maltese football referees will be billioniares.
Ms L Dimech
Aug 1st 2012, 11:35
Finally good news for football referees all over Italy. This judgement puts them in line to becoming some of the richest men in Italy !!!
In a country where flinging these types of insults is such a national passtime that any television programme is full of them it is rather funny for Vittorio to take umbrage .... is it perhaps a case of "La verita` offende?" or is it that his cousin knows something we don't ............................................
John J Borg
Aug 1st 2012, 11:04
this is slightly weird......if you call a black man `black` youre guilty(racism)
now if you call a man `no balls` you cant be guilty (unless he physically dosent have them)
Victor Rodenas
Aug 1st 2012, 12:40
Can you call a white man,...white.
Chris Borg
Aug 1st 2012, 10:28
to get insulted when being told you have "no balls" .... is having 'no balls'!!!
Reuben D. Spiteri
Aug 1st 2012, 12:22
Amen
V Cassar
Sep 11th 2012, 16:37
exactly..they simply created a paradox
Charles Caruana
Aug 1st 2012, 10:28
I would present these in front of a female judge for judgement and vice versa.
Anthony Falzon
Aug 1st 2012, 10:25
IT SHOULD BE THE SAME HERE BUT SO FAR THE ONLY TWO PUBLIC PERSON THAT USED SUCH INSULTS IN MALTA WERE BOTH IN THE M.L.P.
m. borg (slm)
Aug 1st 2012, 12:42
That is because the other side didn't have them........... ever thought about that?
Alfred M. Falzon
Aug 1st 2012, 10:21
The PL member of parliament who called the PM names earlier this week should take note of the law in Italy which should become law also in Malta.
m. borg (slm)
Aug 1st 2012, 12:44
I guess a law against insulting the people's intelligence would be more appropriate.
The PM and his cabinet would spend more time at the courts than at work.
Charles W. Sammut
Aug 1st 2012, 09:15
This judgement insults women. It implies that only men with guts have strength of character, determination, competence and coherence.
This political correctness is getting more preposterous every day.
Don Hughes
Aug 1st 2012, 12:06
Charles....I absolutely agree with your last sentence.
Ronnie Callus
Aug 1st 2012, 08:11
They should so, because now we are supposed to be equal isn't it !!!!
Please choose the reason of your report below: