Italian Court Invalidates Differential Penalties for Slander of Catholicism

Italy's constitutional court ruled today that people who slander the Catholic faith cannot be given harsher penalties than those who slander other recognized religions. This ruling invalidates the differential punishments currently found in Articles 403 and 406 of the Italian Penal Code. AKI reports today from Rome that the ruling was based on a provision in Italy's Constitution that assures equality before the law to all citizens without regard to religion. The ruling came in the case of a controversial Italian Muslim activist, Adel Smith.