Italy’s court of last resort has ruled that married women have an inalienable right to lie about having an affair. Specifically, the court decided that a 48-year-old woman who lied to the police was justified in defending her honor.

Italian men may have the same right, but untangling the zaniness of the Corte Suprema di Cassazione could take some time.

For those who are curious, Italy’s court of cassation does not decide constitutional matters; rather it rules on the proper interpretation of the law.

BBC:

The court gave its landmark ruling after hearing the case of a 48-year-old woman, convicted of giving false testimony to police by denying she had lent her mobile phone to her lover.

The appeal court did not agree that she had broken the law.

It said bending the truth was justified to conceal extra-marital relationships.

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