Article 619 — Proceedings in Respect of Injury to the Honour of

Absent or Deceased Persons. (1) Where any of the injuries to honour punishable under this Chapter relates to a deceased person or to a person legally declared absent, the right to lodge a complaint lies exclusively with his descendants, natural or adopted, and with his spouse, or, in their default, with his ascendants, natural or legal, and with his brothers and sisters. (2) Limitation of the action, in respect of injury to private honour, is regulated by the general provisions. Where the allegations constituting the injury to the memory of the person affected refer to a public activity of any kind which has passed into the historical, artistic, literary or scientific domain, the complaint shall not be admissible if, at the time when the incriminating act is committed, at least thirty years have passed since the death of the injured person or since he was legally declared absent.