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Seven levels of the so-called “nude Tour de France” have been banned for public indecency in restrictions which local weather activists mentioned was “state intimidation”.
The cyclists are participating within the World Bare Bike Experience, an annual occasion launched in 2004 in London and which final 12 months crossed the capital with out elevating eyebrows. Nevertheless, for the reason that tour kicked off in Nantes, western France, on Aug 8, native authorities have prohibited seven levels by decree.
These blocking the tour have cited the penal code that “equates nudism to sexual exhibitionism on the general public causeway,” mentioned François Feunteun, president of Le Mouvement Naturiste (The Nudism Motion), which is organising the trip. Public indecency is punishable by as much as a 12 months in jail and a €15,000 (£12,800) advantageous in France.
Undeterred contributors
Undeterred, the bikers sought to press forward with their tour to boost consciousness for local weather change, biodiversity and nudism. However firstly of 1 stage in Millau close to Clermont-Ferrand, central France, police barred the nude peloton and arrested Mr Feunteun, 59.
“In France, while you need to speak in regards to the critical dangers the planet is dealing with, you get handled like an ecoterrorist and sexual delinquent,” he mentioned.
Mr Feunteun criticised his arrest as a type of “state intimidation” and a blatant try to dissuade the 15 or so contributors from persevering with.
“In London, they introduced collectively 5,000 individuals with none downside. And it’s been the identical in all of the democratic international locations of the world,” he instructed Le Figaro, the French newspaper, including that he intends to file for authorized motion. “The one bans have been in dictatorships and really spiritual international locations.”
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