Calling her niece “fat” allegedly landed a woman in jail in northern Greece, after a local prosecutor ordered her arrest under the country’s anti-racism legislation, a case that has sparked fierce debate – amid a slow “news cycle” – over politically correct speech and manipulation of the relevant law.

Following a complaint by the niece, police arrested the aunt in the northwest town of Argos Orestiko on the orders of a public prosecutor, and under the Greek legal system’s summary arrest procedure. Authorities determined that the alleged remarks fell within the scope of the anti-racism legislation as discriminatory conduct based on physical characteristics, commonly referred to in much of the western world as “body shaming”.

The woman remained in custody at the Argos Orestiko police precinct and was expected to appear before a prosecutor later Thursday to respond to the allegations, with judicial authorities to determine any further criminal proceedings.

The case has drawn widespread attention because authorities applied provisions of legislation primarily intended to combat 0vert discrimination and hate crimes to alleged insults concerning a person’s appearance.

Critics have argued that the incident reflects an increasingly “politically correct” interpretation and manipulation of the relevant law, while some supporters contend that discriminatory abuse based on physical characteristics warrants legal protection under existing legislation.