What you need to know:
The defamation against the Executive, the Parliament or the Army is a crime that is punished in Italy with a fine and penalty of up to three years in jail. This case comes from 2023 and perhaps many had forgotten it: what was a research request, has become a formal accusation against the leader of Placebo, Brian Molko, who will face charges for calling the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, “fascist” during a concert.
In Italy, defamation against the Executive, Legislative, or the Army is considered a crime, punishable with a fine of up to 5,000 euros. According to The Guardian, Brian Molko could have to pay a fine of up to 5,000 euros for his comments. The incident occurred in 2023 during the Sonic Park Festival, where Molko called Meloni a “piece of shit, fascist, racist” during his performance.
Brian Molko could have to pay a fine of up to 5,000 euros
Yesterday, February 17, the Ministry of Justice of Italy gave the green light to the Turin Prosecutor’s Office to judicially process Brian Molko for his comments. The defamation is a crime that in Italy is punished with up to 5,000 euros of a fine and can also carry a prison sentence of up to three years. However, the spokesman of the Ministry of Justice of Italy, Carlo Nordio, advances that Brian Molko is unlikely to be taken to court for saying “fascist” to Giorgia Meloni.
It is not the first lawsuit of this type for Georgia Meloni
In 2023, Meloni forced the author Roberto Saviano to pay $1,000 for a fine to verbally assault her by criticizing her for her antimigrant position. This time, Brian Molko is facing a similar situation for his comments during the concert. So far, Brian Molko has not expressed a position on the legal lawsuit he will face, nor has Placebo commented on the matter.
The incident highlights the sensitive nature of free speech and defamation laws in Italy. While Molko’s comments were made during a concert, they have sparked a legal backlash that could result in significant fines. As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the Italian courts navigate the complexities of free speech and defamation.
