FRANCE/FILE: Ukrainian feminist group Femen face a court hearing in Paris over a topless demonstration they staged at the Notre Dame cathedral last February

Record ID: 861806

  • Title: FRANCE/FILE: Ukrainian feminist group Femen face a court hearing in Paris over a topless demonstration they staged at the Notre Dame cathedral last February
  • Date: 13th September 2013
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - FEBRUARY 12, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TOPLESS FEMEN ACTIVISTS RINGING NOTRE DAME BELL CATHEDRAL OFFICIAL DRAGGING ACTIVIST VARIOUS OF PROTEST UNDER WAY, BELLS BEING RUNG VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING (French): 'HOMOPHOBES GET LOST' PROTESTER BEING DRAGGED OUT OF CHURCH
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA81RSEXFFLKTC86X8VSV5A9XOU
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Nine members of Ukranian feminist group Femen faced a court hearing in Paris on Friday (September 13) over a topless demonstration they staged inside the Notre Dame cathedral.
    The Femen group specializes in shock bare-breast appearances to dramatize women's rights causes.
    Arriving for the hearing at Paris' Palais de Justice, wearing denim jackets and colourful flower tiaras, the activists said they were not intimidated by having been taken to court.

    "Those accusation is of course nothing else than to try to punish Femen for blasphemy and we're here to defend our right to be able to express our point of view, to protect our right for blasphemy and today we face them here but we will face them many a times in their charges again and again and again," said Inna Shevchenko, Femen co-founder.
    Notre Dame authorities are seeking compensation from the activists for what they said was damage to the cathedral's property.

    "There are two things: there is material compensation which has been estimated at 7000 euros. 7000 euros to be able to repair damages and then moral compensation which cannot be given a value and so we are asking for one euro as a symbolic compensation," said lawyer representing the cathedral, Laurent Delvolve.
    Last February, Femen activists including Shevchenko sneaked into the historic cathedral and undressed next to the church's brand new bells which were at the time on display in the nave of the cathedral. Disrobed, their torsos revealed slogans condemning homophobia and they rang the bells before scuffling with cathedral staff and eventually being dragged out of the church.
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