Plan B Forum

French fury at flag bottom-wiping

France's justice minister has called for legal action to be taken against a man who was photographed wiping his bottom with the French flag.

Michel Alliot-Marie said it was unacceptable for the Tricolour to be insulted in this way, and called for those responsible to be prosecuted.

Her response came after the photograph was displayed in a competition run by the media retailer, FNAC.

The image won a special mention in the "politically incorrect" category.

Taken on the street, the photograph shows a man seen from behind: his trousers are around his ankles and he is apparently wiping his bottom with a French flag.

The picture appeared last month in Metro, a free national newspaper, and was hastily withdrawn from the contest in the southern city of Nice after complaints from veterans' groups.

"As soon as we saw that people were shocked by the image, we withdrew it from the list of winners, with the photographer's consent, and we have not exhibited it," said a FNAC spokeswoman.

The government got involved after being alerted by a local MP, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris.

But under French law, it is only an offence to insult the flag in an event organised by the public authorities - not in a private, cultural event such as this, adds our correspondent.

Ms Alliot-Marie said that in that case the law should be changed.

"Presumably the law has the legal means to punish such an intolerable act against the French flag," said the minister's spokesman.

"If the existing law proves incomplete in this regard, it should be revised."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/e ... 636331.stm

Published: 2010/04/21 23:01:41 GMT

Michel Alliot-Marie said it was unacceptable for the Tricolour to be insulted in this way, and called for those responsible to be prosecuted.

The Hen wrote:

Michel Alliot-Marie said it was unacceptable for the Tricolour to be insulted in this way, and called for those responsible to be prosecuted.

Can a flag be insulted?

And more importantly, what would be an acceptable way for the flag to be insulted?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, of constitutional value, states, in its article 11:
The free communication of thoughts and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man: any citizen thus may speak, write, print freely, save [if it is necessary] to respond to the abuse of this liberty, in the cases determined by the law.
In addition, France adheres to the European Convention on Human Rights and accepts the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights.

Restrictions

As part of “internal security” enactments passed in 2003, it an offense to insult the national flag or anthem, with a penalty of a maximum 9,000 euro fine or up to six months' imprisonment.[citation needed] Restrictions on "offending the dignity of the republic", on the other hand, include "insulting" anyone who serves the public (potentially magistrates, police, firefighters, teachers and even bus conductors).[citation needed] The legislation reflects the debate that raged after incidents such as the booing of the “La Marseillaise” at a France vs. Algeria football match in 2002.

Scooter wrote:You live in a civilized country.