French outrage over photo of man wiping his bottom on the tricolour flag



Its aim was to shock. And this prize-winning photograph of a man wiping his derriere with the French flag has certainly succeeded.

So outraged is the French government that ministers are demanding the artist behind it is punished - even if the law needs to be changed to do so.

Justice Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie said 'criminal proceedings should be launched against this unacceptable act'.

Sacre bleu! The French government is demanding the prosecution of a man photographed wiping his bottom on the national flag

She added: 'Presumably the law can punish such an intolerable act against the French flag? If the existing law is not strong enough, then it should be revised.'

The photograph was taken on a public street in France by an unnamed artist and entered for a competition organised by a department store in Nice.

It was praised by judges and won a special mention in the 'politically incorrect' category.

It was later published in a newspaper - to widespread disgust.

Eric Ciotti, an MP from the ruling UMP party, said: 'The image is utterly offensive and should be removed.

'I want the person who committed this outrage to be punished, and possibly those who published it too.'

He said he had received complaints-from French war veterans-while members of the public-told him the photographer should go to prison.

But Eric de Mongolfier, the Nice prosecutor, said the image did not constitute an offence because it was produced in a 'creative spirit'.

Frederic Vezard, editor of the Metro newspaper which published the photograph, said: 'It is a question of knowing what the limits of art, provocation and freedom of speech are.'

'Insulting' the French flag or the national anthem during a publicly organised event is punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of £7,000.



