Crimen injuria

Crimen injuria is a crime under South African common law, defined as the act of "unlawfully, intentionally, and seriously impairing the dignity of another."^[1] Although difficult to precisely define, the crime is used in the prosecution of certain instances of road rage,^[2] stalking,^[1] racially offensive language,^[3] emotional or psychological abuse,^[4] and sexual offences against children.^[5]

Etymology

The phrase crimen injuria is Latin, short for crimen injuria datum, meaning "offence committed without lawful cause".^{[citation needed]}