NSFW warning: Naked boobies.
Via AFP:
Rarely a week goes by without a Femen protest somewhere in world. Originating in Ukraine five years ago, the expanding network of feminist activists bare their breasts – often inscribed with slogans – to champion women’s rights or decry corruption and what they see as repressive religious institutions and dogma. Femen’s flash events generally last only a few minutes, unfolding in front of journalists (alerted ahead of time) and the startled targets of their ire. Sometimes the reaction is amused indifference, but in most cases someone gets red in the face and the women wind up in the clutches of security forces or police.
“Our weapons are bare breasts,” declares Femen’s motto. “Go out. Undress. And Win.”
Femen activists often hone in on symbolic and sacred spots, the better to attract attention and make their point. Last year, a band of naked-from-the-waist-up protesters barricaded themselves, for example, inside the bell tower of Saint Sophie Cathedral in Kiev to protest a proposed anti-abortion law in Ukraine. More recently, they were seen pulling off their sweaters and tank tops inside Notre Dame in Paris and Saint Peter’s in Rome before being forcibly ejected from both places.
This week, the Grand Mosque of Paris was on their hit list. The AFP photo above circulated widely on the Internet, generating a lot of ‘shares’ and comments on AFP’s French-language Facebook page. Until, that is, Facebook yanked it.
“Per usual, Femen let us know what was going to happen,” explained AFP photographer Fred Dufour, who took the shot in Paris. “A small car pulled up and three women – breasts exposed, faces covered with veils – jumped out and ran toward the mosque. Two security guards posted at the entrance moved to intercept them, yelling at them to go away.”