France’s interior minister has defended ‘topless sunbathing’ after police asked a group of women on a Mediterranean beach to cover up.
Three women were involved in the incident that happened on the beach at Sainte-Maire-Le-Mer following a complaint by a family with kids.
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.
Although no municipal order forbids this practice [topless sunbathing] in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, the police were also within their rights to request the woman to cover their chest.
A survey by the website VieHealthy in 2019 showed the practice is less common in France now than it was in the past, and is less common than in other European countries.
