Calumnias

Calumnias is the term used to describe false statements or accusations made about someone with the intent to damage that person’s reputation. Calumnias can be spoken, written, or published online, and they typically involve alleging that the subject committed a crime or a serious moral fault without evidence. The defining elements often include falsity, publication to a third party, and an aim to cause harm, though the precise criteria vary by legal system.

In many jurisdictions, calumnias are addressed as a form of defamation or as a specific crime of false accusation. Some legal traditions distinguish calumnias from general injurias or from opinions, and the severity of sanctions ranges from civil remedies such as damages, apologies, or retractions to criminal penalties. The required proof usually involves demonstrating falsity, intent, and publication, with defenses including truth, fair or qualified opinion, privilege, or absence of malice in certain contexts.

Definitional nuances can differ: some systems treat calumnias as the act of falsely accusing another of crimes, while others treat it as broader false statements that harm reputation. Remedies and procedural rules depend on local law, including whether the offense is pursued as a criminal charge or as a civil claim. In practice, calumnias are considered particularly harmful because they target a person’s honor and social standing and are often difficult to fully rectify once publicized.

Etymology traces back to Latin calumnia, meaning deception or false accusation. In modern Spanish, calumnias refers to slander or defamatory false accusations, while related terms appear in other Romance languages with similar meanings.