Topless sunbathing defended by French interior minister
France’s interior minister has defended topless sunbathing after police asked a group of women on a Mediterranean beach to cover up.
The three were approached by officers on the beach in Sainte-Marie-La-Mer following a complaint from a holidaying family.
The incident generated a huge backlash against the officers.
Backing the women, the minister, Gérald Darmanin, tweeted: “Freedom is a precious commodity”.
He said it was wrong the women were asked to put on clothing.
A press release posted on Facebook by the Pyrenees-Orientales police said the incident happened last week.
Two officers asked three people on the beach to cover their chests, after a request from a family concerned about children present.
“Freedom is a precious commodity”.
Gérald Darmanin, France’s interior minister
“Guided by a desire for appeasement, the police asked the people concerned if they would agree to cover their chest after they explained the reason for their approach,” it said.
“No municipal order forbids this practice [topless sunbathing] in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer.”
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Source: BBC News
Original publication 26 August, 2020
Posted on NatCorn 2nd September 2020
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