Actually, in Portugal, the dead can be defamed.
?
I will grant that wikipedia is not always the most reliable source.
But a gauge of how reliable a wikipedia article is, is how well referenced it is.
This article is well referenced and it says:
Portugal [edit]
In Portugal, defamation crimes are: "defamation" (article 180 of the Penal Code; up to six months in prison, or a fine of up to 240 days), "injuries" (art. 181; up to 3 months in prison, or a fine up to 120 days), and "offense to the memory of a deceased person" (art. 185; up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up 240 days). Penalties are aggravated in cases with publicity (art. 183; up to two years in prison or at least 120 days of fine) and when the victim is an authority (art.184; all other penalties aggravated by an extra half). There is yet the extra penalty of "public knowledge of the court decision" (costs paid by the defamer) (art. 189 of Penal Code) and also the crime of "incitation of a crime" (article 297; up to 3 years in prison, or fine).[71][72]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation
wiki eh?
I see the strenght of your argument
Not
I'm not certain that the PT criminal code that I've just consulted is the latest version (and it does keep changing), but Ferryman seems to be correct that defamation of the deceased is indeed an offence in Portugal.
Artigo 185o
Ofensa à memória de pessoa falecida
1 - Quem, por qualquer forma, ofender gravemente a memória de pessoa falecida é punido com pena de prisão até 6 meses ou com pena de multa até 240 dias.
2 - É correspondentemente aplicável o disposto:
a) Nos nos 2, 3 e 4 do artigo 180o; e
b) No artigo 183o.
3 - A ofensa não é punível quando tiverem decorrido mais de 50 anos sobre o falecimento. (Redacção da Lei no 65/98, de 2 de Setembro)
ETA: And I don't see where Ferryman has defamed her.