Is being thin a sin? Well, depends on the eyes of the beholder. Does encouraging people to be thinner warrant a jail time? Italy Parliament thinks so. In fact, Pro Anorexia websites criminalization is now underway in the country. The nation is gripped right now by the debate that pits people who support and do not support bulimia and pro-anorexia websites.
According to a report by the Yahoo, the Italian Parliament is proposing for Pro Anorexia Websites Criminalization and is sponsored by an author and philosopher. If gets approved, the law will fine these websites $67,000 fine and end spending up to one year in jail.
"[These websites] tell girls and young women how to not be hungry, how to make themselves vomit, and how to be more and more thin," said Michela Marzano who was one of three members of the Italian Parliament that proposed the billed. Marzano herself battled with anorexia when she was 18 year old. That battle lasted for two decades.
"The sites don't necessarily cause this troubling behavior, because the causes are complex and many, but the sites do maintain people's suffering, by making them feel like everything is alright. In Italy, there are thousands of these sites,"
From Yahoo:
"If the Italian bill is approved, creators of such sites would face fines of $10,000 to $100,000 euros (approximately $13,000 to $134,000), and/or jail time of up to two years. Fines would double if the website was found to have affected a victim younger than 14. Both houses of parliament must approve the legislation, which is still in the early discussion stages, in order for it to become law. And though it was proposed in June, discussions on the topic heated up this week, according to various reports from the Italian press."
Though the intention is good, many think that Pro Anorexia Websites Criminalization will only do more harm. Author Chiara Lalli said in a blog piece that people who run pro-anorexia websites could be the same people who need support for their plight. She tagged this Anorexia website criminalization as wacky and ultra-conservative.
