I always thought that France was one of the better pro-naturist countries. However, the French Naturist Federation has found itself citing BN and British Laws and attitudes to public nudity as being something to admire and they have raised concerns about legal developments in France.
They have started a petition and called for crowdfunding to help with their campaign. In February last year, a 22 year old man was sentenced to a year in prison for sunbathing naked on a beach in Carnac, in June a naturist was was fined €600 by Nimes Criminal court and the Paris World Naked Bike Ride in September was banned.
The problem seems to be a reinterpretation of “Article 222-32 of the Criminal Code on Sexual Exhibition" which states:
"The sexual exhibition imposed to the view of others in a public area shall be punished by one year's imprisonment and a fine of €15,000".
But this article was meant to replace an earlier one in an attempt to differentiate between simple nudity and an intent to cause alarm and distress. The French want formal legal guidelines similar to our own.
