An Algerian man, Abderrahmane Saidi, has been fined €750 by a court in Nice for insulting the French flag. He also received a four-month suspended sentence and was ordered to attend classes on citizenship. Insulting the tricolour is punishable in France by a fine of up to €1,500.
I wonder what would have happened to Mr. Saidi had he insulted the Union Flag in the UK, or the Cross of St. George in England, a country which does not even have its own national anthem.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Perhaps he should have a shot at desecrating the Stars and Stripes if he wants to feel the full force of a society’s disapproval.Manufacturers make underwear and all sorts of items out of the UK flag, so trampling it underfoot and setting fire to it, is probably not punishable in any way in the UK unless the perpetrators can be booked for arson.
On balance it is possibly a sign of a country’s maturity rather than indifference, that we don’t become grossly over-excited as the Americans do with their precious flag, when someone uses the union flag as a bedcover, or douses it in petrol, and then manages to set fire to themselves when trying to light it, as happened in a protest on the streets of Karachi some years ago. I am sure we all thought, “Oh, the poor fellow – he was only trying to light our flag, and look what happened to him…”
It’s not an offence to burn the Stars & Stripes, a quick bit of research tells me that in fact the first amendment allows it!
“The words of the first amendment are simple and majestic: `Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech.”
The Supreme Court says so as do Congress and The Senate, you can read about it here here and here (just for starters)
Personally, I wouldn’t and I’d prevent anyone in my company doing so but it’s not against the law! Just against good taste!
“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.”
“The offending picture which triggered the decree won a prize in a photo contest in Nice in March.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12069307
I did a post about this at the time. It caused a bit of a stir on this site! MoO, the erstwhile faux French blogger (a member at that time) had a virtual written melt down.
“I wonder what would have happened to Mr. Saidi had he insulted the Union Flag in the UK, or the Cross of St. George in England, a country which does not even have its own national anthem.”
Probably naff all?
Soutie, Courtesy of the Web:
Every state in America except two has laws dealing with the misuse, abuse, and desecration of flags: the American flag, the state flag, and sometimes the Confederate flag. The laws prohibit defiling, defacing, casting contempt upon, and sometimes even satirizing these flags. Most laws specify actions, but some criminalize words. A few include other venerated objects in their protections.
Wyoming is the only state that doesn’t say anything about defacing, desecrating, or disparaging the flag. Alaska only bans the registration of trademarks which disparage national symbols. All other states proscribe at least some uses for national and state flags.
I think people concentrate far too much on mere ‘symbols’ and not enough on what lies behind those symbols and symbolic behaviour.
Clearly Abderrahmane Saidi has no respect for France and its ‘symbols, and, perhaps, should be ‘invited’ to leave France – permanently.
I must point out, Tomkilcourse, that when it comes to sporting events the English teams simply highjack the British national anthem, leaving Scotland and Wales to come up with something else. I’d be quite happy if England were to find a national anthem for itself.
Sheona, good evening. My very first comment ever on MyT was to point out to Janus that the Southrons have had a ready-made national anthem for decades. I am beginning to lose count of the number of times that I have tried to point this out to said Southrons. Un bel di, as the boy Puccini says.
Have a good one JM.
Flower of Scotland, a nice little ditty for a country who formally sung something to the tune of Scots Porridge Oates.:-)
Nollaig chridheil huibh.
I don’t know. I rather like the fact that England sticks with God Save The Queen. It is short, simple and to the point. Her Majesty is the Queen of England (as well as the rest of the United Kingdom) and is a timeless symbol of the hopes and aspirations of the country. It would be wonderful if the other countries chose to sing it as well. The Scottish anthem, I think, is somewhat petty, resentful and defeatist. I say that as someone who is ethnically at least, 50% Scottish.
As for defacing the flag, I stand by the ‘sticks and stones’ theory. If one reacts to such behaviour, it will encourage them. It is bad manners, of course, to insult your host country. But if no one is hurt then one should let it be. Speaking of bad manners, I think it is pretty discourteous of people who wander around London wearing T-shirts with the legend, “I support XXXX and any other country that plays against England.” I think it’s quite acceptable to wear it if you are watching a match between your country and England, but not for every day use. If you think so little of England, go home.
“I rather like the fact that England sticks with God Save The Queen. It is short, simple and to the point. Her Majesty is the Queen of England (as well as the rest of the United Kingdom) and is a timeless symbol of the hopes and aspirations of the country. It would be wonderful if the other countries chose to sing it as well. The Scottish anthem, I think, is somewhat petty, resentful and defeatist.” (Don’t know how to insert pieces of quotes. Will resolve this in the NY)
Good morning Sipu, I have to agree with you. Flags and symbols are all very well but when I hear the opening bars of GSTQ a shiver runs down my spine. As one who considers himself British from Northern Presbyterian stock, I can tell you that I pass Tebbit’s cricket test. It is also a little known fact that in the whole of the UK there is only one football club that sings the National Anthem at every match just before full-time. No prizes for guessing the magnificent institution that does this.
Sipu, I should think there is probably a rule that states that the two teams in a match cannot sing the same national anthem.
And the Sassenachs wonder why some Scots dislike them, JM!
Merry Christmas to both you gentleman.
Sheona, I just think they should both sing the same anthem, together. I am not anti-Scottish at all. I am very proud of my Scottish roots. I just wish that they would not constantly see England as the old enemy. We are supposed to be united. In the US, when two states play each other, they both sing the same anthem, why not in the UK?
And merry Christmas to you too.