Sticking out your tongue ruled illegal in Italy

Italy's highest court of appeal affirmed the illegality of insulting someone by sticking your tongue out at them.

The case brought before the Cassation Court involved a farmer whose tongue gesture was captured by a cellphone camera held by the neighbour with whom he was arguing. The farmer, Carlo O., had been convicted by a justice of the peace of insulting the neighbour.



The Cassation Court let stand the conviction and ordered Carlo O. to pay his neighbour's court costs of $1,863.81. He will also have to pay damages, which will be set in a different trial.

Italian courts often find people guilty of offending someone's honour.