Poking your tongue out in order to insult someone became a crime in Italy on Friday when the Cassazione, Italy’s highest Court of Appeal, upheld a farmer’s conviction for doing so.

Last year the farmer, Carlo O…. from Fabriano [Marche] walked into a field belonging to a neighbour with whom he had often quarrelled and poked his tongue out at him. Unfortunately for Mr O his neighbour immortalised the moment with a camera phone and then took this evidence to a Justice of the Peace who ordered Mr O to pay compensation.
At the appeal hearing Mr O said that the gesture was a “grimace” but the Court held that it was an insult. Now that his appeal has been turned down Mr O will have to pay his neighbour’s legal costs of 1,300 euros as well as damages. The amount will have to be decided in another, civil court process. Mr O’s criminal penalty has not been made public.

Italy has strict laws regarding “insult” which, under Article 594 of the Penal Code, is often seen as a slur on the victim’s dignity or honour. It is punishable by six months’ imprisonment plus a fine of up to 516 euros. In cases that amount to a slander committed in front of many people the penalties can be doubled. Under Friday’s ruling poking your tongue out or sneering at someone are regarded as offences to their honour.

Albert Einstein might have to be careful if he were in Italy at the moment. Can you think of any other celebrities who would have to “watch their tongues” in Italy?