Algerian Man Fined for Desecrating French Flag

[Azale]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12069307

23 December 2010 Last updated at 11:07 ET

Man fined for insulting French flag

A court in the south of France has fined an Algerian man 750 euros (£637; $984) for insulting the national flag - the first penalty under a new decree.

Abderrahmane Saidi, 26, was at a local government office on Tuesday when he grabbed a flag and snapped the pole in two during a row with a clerk.

A July decree made insulting the tricolour an offence punishable by a fine of up to 1,500 euros. The rule was triggered by a photo of a man wiping his bottom with the flag.

Saidi was sentenced by a court in Nice. It also gave him a four-month suspended prison sentence and ordered him to attend citizenship classes. Frustrated by a bureaucratic delay, he not only attacked the flag but also threw the broken pole at the clerk's window, AFP news agency reports. Two police officers then restrained him, but he tried to punch them.

The Alpes-Maritimes regional authority, police and the clerk all lodged complaints about his behaviour. The offending picture which triggered the decree won a prize in a photo contest in Nice in March.

Before the July decree it was only an offence to insult the French flag during a public event.

A few questions.

1. Is this law ridiculous or super ridiculous?
2. Do you think the fine would have been as great if the offender wasn't Algerian?
3. What are flag laws like in your country?

!!!

 

[Godwynn]

We can take the abuse.

 

[SG-17]

IIRC, There are no laws regarding flag desecration anymore in the US. However they are laws protecting your right to fly one.

 

[galdre]

stupid law

 

[Bill3000]

I suggest we retaliate by burning the french flag.

 

[Behind The Mask]

I suggest we retaliate by burning the french flag.

Nah.

French Flag Toilet Paper FTW!

 

[strangestranger]

Bleh...
This law is just Nicolas Sarkozy trying to please his usual voters.
Mostly trying to get the votes of Far-Righters and Nationalists...

 

[Truronian]

A good lawyer would have got him off... he desecrated the flag pole, not the flag itself.

 

[galdre]

A good lawyer would have got him off... he desecrated the flag pole, not the flag itself.

"desecrated the flag pole" now that brings images to mind

 

[Lone Wolf]

Desecrating flags is, in general, a really bad taste, but better to desecrate it then to worship it.
At least, the current Russian flag isn't that popular with Russian nationalists.

 

[GhostWriter16]

1. Is this law ridiculous or super ridiculous?

I don't know whether I'd say super-ridiculous, wanting respect for the flag is more understandable then, say, executing people for attempting suicide

That said, its still crap.

2. Do you think the fine would have been as great if the offender wasn't Algerian?

Maybe, maybe not. There are certainly bigots, but it wouldn't do to assume that this particular judge was.

3. What are flag laws like in your country?

Not sure. IIRC they are covered by state law, but I could be wrong.

 

[Machiavelo]

This is an insult to the country represented. It's normal to be forbidden by the concerned country.
Thus, it can be considered as an act of hate to those who are represented by the flag or the symbole (remember the guy who wanted to burn the coran).

What happened is ok. I don't know if the sentence is ok because I don't live there and I'm not judge but to me, this law is allright. Flags must be respected.

It don't know what is the law about flags in my country. Canadian flag is rarely burned. Quebec's one, even less.

 

[civ_king]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12069307

A few questions.

1. Is this law ridiculous or super ridiculous?
2. Do you think the fine would have been as great if the offender wasn't Algerian?
3. What are flag laws like in your country?

!!!

1) fine with it
2) Yes
3) No penalties for desecrating the flag in US

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Ridiculous law, and Truronian makes a good point about he flagpole. But considering that

he not only attacked the flag but also threw the broken pole at the clerk's window, AFP news agency reports. Two police officers then restrained him, but he tried to punch them.

the punishment is adequate. Even if you ignore the flag nonsense, he still rioted in a government building and attacked a clerk and the police.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Ridiculous law, and Truronian makes a good point about he flagpole. But considering that

the punishment is adequate. Even if you ignore the flag nonsense, he still rioted in a government building and attacked a clerk and the police.

Oh god, that clerk could have been lightly brushed by the flag pole if it managed to break through that glass! The horror!

 

[Azale]

the punishment is adequate. Even if you ignore the flag nonsense, he still rioted in a government building and attacked a clerk and the police.

I'm talking about the fine he received for his handling of the flag, not any punishment he got for being a flailing tart.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

I'm talking about the fine he received for his handling of the flag, not any punishment he got for being a flailing tart.

Ok, if it's just about the flag and we ignore the rest than he shouldn't have been punished (except for damaging property, the flagpole needs to be replaced).
Destroying or "desecrating" a flag falls under freedom of expression in my book.

 

[NovaKart]

I don't necessarily have a problem with laws protecting certain national symbols but I think the fine is really excessive.

When did the laws against desecrating the US flag get overturned? I think they existed until recently.

 

[Lillefix]

Up until last year or so, burning a flag(any national flag) in Norway could give you a maximum of one year in prison. But they changed it because of freedom of speech.

 

[Tani Coyote]

1. Stupid law is stupid. Freedom of expression is important.

2. No idea. Are French authorities partial to racism towards their former colonies?

3. The Courts have ruled that an act's legality should not be determined by popular approval. This was the ruling on a flag burning case. As such, it is perfectly legal to burn an American flag, but heavily frowned upon.