FRENCH AUTHORITIES ARE THREATENING TO GO AFTER
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SHARING IMAGES OF POLICE FINDING
WOMEN WHO ARE WEARING BURKINIS AT THE BEACH.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES THROUGHOUT FRANCE
THAT HAVE BANNED IN THE SWIMWEAR.
THERE WAS AN IMAGE OF COPS BASICALLY GIVING A CITATION
TO ONE MUSLIM WOMAN WHO WAS WEARING SOME SORT OF
HEADDRESS TUNIC THING THAT MUSLIMS WHERE.
AUTHORITIES ARE UPSET BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING CRITICIZED
FOR BEING IN THAT PHOTO.
LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT IT.
HERE IS EIGHT PICTURE OF A WOMAN WEARING A BURKINI.
THIS IS THE PHOTO THAT HAS GONE VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
SHOWING THE COPS TELLING THE WOMAN TO TAKE OFF HER BURKINI.
>> ACCORDING TO THE COPS, SHE WAS TO SHOWING THE COPS
THAT SHE WAS NOT WEARING A BURKINI.
SHE GOT UP LATER AND WAS FINED AND LEFT THE BEACH.
>> SHE WAS FINED, AND THERE WERE WITNESSES.
ONE WOMAN SAYS THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS CRYING.
AND PEOPLE WERE CHEERING WHEN THE COPS CONFRONTED HER AND
HARASSED HER ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS WEARING.
BUT THE FACT THAT FRENCH OFFICIALS ARE NOW SAYING
THEY ARE GOING TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION FOR SHARING THAT
IMAGE IS HILARIOUS TO ME.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY CAN'T EVEN NAME SOMETHING THAT WOULD
INDICATE THAT SOMEONE IS BREAKING THE LAW BY POSTING
THESE PICTURES OR SHARING THEM.
>>WE HAVE BECOME WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT.
FIRST, WE NOW HAVE MORALITY POLICE IN FRANCE WHO ARE
TELLING YOU WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T WEAR.
IT'S AMAZING.
ON TOP OF THAT, NOW THEY ARE SAYING [VIDEO BUFFERING]
THE
WEST WAS MAKING DEFAMATORY PICTURES OF MOHAMMED.
THAT IS WHY THE FUNDAMENTALIST MUSLIMS HAVE ATTACKED.
NOW WE COMPLETELY REVERSED IT.
HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE IT?
>> BUT THIS ISN'T EVEN DEFAMATORY.
>>NEITHER ARE THE PICTURES OF MOHAMMED.
>> THIS IS WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
WOMEN ARE BEING APPROACHED BY COPS ON THE BEACHES OF
FRANCE IF THEY ARE NOT DRESSED IN WHAT THEY THINK IS
APPROPRIATE BEACH ATTIRE.
THEY ARE APPARENTLY NOT SKIMPY ENOUGH, SO COPS GO AFTER
THEM AND TELL THEM TO UNDRESS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IDEOLOGY OR THE [VIDEO BUFFERING]
POLITICAL IDEAS OF THESE COPS ARE.
THEY ARE SIMPLY ENFORCING THE LAWS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF
FRANCE RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THEY LOOK TERRIBLE, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY DOING WHAT
THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO.
>> LET'S CLARIFY IT EVEN THOUGH IT IS SUPER OBVIOUS.
HOW CAN IT BE DEFAMATORY IF IT IS A PICTURE OF WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
YOUR LAW IS SO BAD THAT EVEN SHOWING A FACTUAL DEPICTION
OF IT IN ACTION IS DEFAMATORY.
WOVEN THE PROBLEM IS WITH YOUR LAW, NOT THE PICTURE.
SECONDLY, OF COURSE IT'S NOT THE COPS FAULT.
THEY ARE NOT EVIL COPS.
THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO, AND THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER TOLD
THEM TO DO THAT.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT FAULT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PASSED THE LAW.
>>THE LAW INDICATES THAT IF YOU SEE SOMEONE DRESSED IN A
BURKINI THEN YOU SHOULD REPORT IT TO THE AUTHORITIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE, BUT IT IS
HARASSMENT AND AGAIN YOU ARE PUNISHING THE WRONG PEOPLE
FOR ISLAMIC EXTREMISM.
THESE ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE AT THE BEACH TRYING TO HAVE FUN.
GOING AFTER THEM AND TELLING THEM TO TAKE THEIR CLOTHES
OFF ISN'T GOING TO HELP ANYTHING.
CAN YOU IMAGINE, EVEN IF YOU ARE A WOMAN WHO IS AGAINST THE
BURKINI, WHO DOESN'T LIKE THE HEADDRESSES, CAN YOU
IMAGINE FOR A SECOND A GROUP OF MEN COMING TO YOU ON A BEACH AND
TELLING YOU YOU NEED TO TAKE THAT OFF.
>>MEN WITH WEAPONS TELLING YOU TO STRIP.
>>AND
THEN THEY FIND YOU FOR NOT BEING SKIMPY ENOUGH ON THE BEACH.
I WOULD LOSE MY SHIT.
>> I THINK YOU ARE BEING WAY TOO NICE TO THE COPS.
I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH MY DAD ONE TIME ABOUT THE DRUG WAR.
I SAID YOU USED TO DRINK AND SMOKE CIGARETTES.
YOU ARREST PEOPLE FOR DRUGS?
WOULDN'T THAT BE HYPOCRITICAL?
[VIDEO BUFFERING] HE GOES, IT IS NOT UP TO ME, IT IS UP TO
THE JUDGE TO DECIDE.
AND I SAID, SO YOU WOULD'VE ARRESTED ROSA PARKS?
AND HE SAID NO.
JUST LIKE IN WAR, WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN IN ILLEGAL ORDER, IT
IS YOUR DUTY TO REFUSE IT.
IF THE LAW IS IMMORAL, IT IS UP TO YOU NOT TO ENFORCE IT.
WHAT IS THAT LINE?
>> THAT IS AN EASY EXTREME EXAMPLE TO GO TO.
BUT I CAN GO TO ANOTHER ONE.
WHAT ABOUT THAT LADY DOWN IN KENTUCKY WHO SAID IT IS
AGAINST MY MORALS TO GIVE GAY PEOPLE MARRIAGE LICENSES.
TO HER, THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM OF MORALITY.
I AM NOT GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR LAW, MY MORALITY TRUMPS
YOUR LAW.
THAT IS A TOUGH THING TO PUT ON PEOPLE THAT ARE ENFORCING LAW.
I THINK WE WILL BOTH AGREE THAT THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE
LAW ITSELF.
>>YES.
>> THIS IS SO INSANE, HONESTLY IF IT WEREN'T SO SERIOUS IT
WOULD BE HILARIOUS.
LIKE YOU SAID, THE POLICE ARE ACTUALLY WALKING UP TO
WOMEN ON THE BEACH AND SAYING YOU ARE WEARING TOO MUCH.
HONESTLY, YOU WOULD HOPE ñ
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE SAYING
WHEN YOU TAKE A PICTURE, THERE MIGHT BE SOME CRAZY ISLAMIC
FUNDAMENTALISTS THAT NOW WANTS TO FIND OUT WHO THIS COP IS
AND ATTACK HIM OR HIS FAMILY.
THEY ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE COP.
THERE IS SO MUCH INSANITY AND IDIOCY HERE, I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU SORT IT OUT.
THE WOMAN WEARING THE BURQA TO THE BEACH, THAT IS HER
RELIGIOUS CHOICE.
IT MAY NOT BE A FREEDOM, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON HER RELIGION
SAYS COVER YOURSELF AT THE BEACH AND SHE IS CHOOSING TO DO SO.
LEAVE HER ALONE.
EVEN IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT, SHE HAS ENOUGH PROBLEMS
WITHOUT YOU.
WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE TO DEAL WITH, NOW HAVE YOU GIVING
ME A TICKET.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF-CAMERA, THE FUNNY THING
TO ME IS THAT IT SHOWS AMERICANS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY INSANE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF CRAZY YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM SOME
RIGHT-WING ñ YOU KNOW, LIKE IN KENTUCKY.
BUT THEY ARE DOING THIS IN FRANCE, SO CRAZY IS WORLDWIDE.
>> I GUESS I MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE BETTER?
>> AS FOR THE POLICE, IT IS A FINE LINE.
I REMEMBER IN THE 70S, COPS WERE COOL.
IF YOU ARE SMOKING WEED, THEY WOULDN'T CARE.
IT WAS UP TO THEM TO ENFORCE THE LAW, BUT THEY KNEW THERE
WERE CERTAIN LAWS.
LIKE IN THE 90S, THERE WAS A PERIOD WHERE THE POLICE OF
NEW YORK STARTED WRITING JAYWALKING TICKETS.
AND PEOPLE LIKE, THIS IS NEW YORK CITY, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR
DAMN MIND?
AND THE POLICE WERE LIKE WE ARE SORRY.
IT IS THEIR JOB TO ENFORCE, BUT THEY HAVE TO USE COMMON
SENSE BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE FRONT LINES.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE POLICE ñ EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR
JOB TO ENFORCE THE LAW THIS IS A LAW WHERE IT IS A NO WIN
SITUATION FOR THAT COP WALKING DOWN THE BEACH.
>> THERE IS A WEIRD THING HERE TOO.
WE ARE GOING TO LAY DOWN THE LAW WITH MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS
ñ BUT DON'T SHOW THE COPS BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID OF
THE MUSLIMS AND WHAT THEY MIGHT DO.
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
TO ME, I AM MAD AT THEM FOR BEING INTIMIDATED BY WHAT
THEY VIEWED TO BE MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS AND WHAT
THEY MIGHT DO TO COPS.
ON THAT FRONT, I AM MORE CONCERNED THAN THEY ARE.
>>I ALSO THINK WHEN IT COMES TO REALLY SERIOUS DIFFICULT
COMPLEX ISSUES, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR EASY FIXES.
BANNING WOMEN FROM WEARING BURKINIS ON THE BEACH IS
NOT GOING TO DO AWAY WITH RADICAL ISLAM.
THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, AGAIN, YOU ARE PUNISHING THE WRONG
PEOPLE.
POLITICIANS ARE SO FUCKING STUPID.
>> THESE WOMEN ARE POWERLESS.
>>TO ME, THIS COPS LOOK OVERDRESSED FOR THE BEACH.
>>YEAH, I WANT TO SEE THEM STRIP.
>>WHO IS A VEST LIKE THAT?
ARE THEY OVERLY RELIGIOUS?
WHY WOULD YOU DRESS LIKE THAT AT THE BEACH.
I THINK WE SHOULD GET AN EXTRA PAIR OF MILITARY
ORGANIZATION TO FOLLOW THE COPS.
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU WEARING AT THE BEACH?
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ALL THOSE CLOSE.
HE HAS BOOTS, I BET HE HAS SOCKS ON.
WHY WOULD YOU WEAR SOCKS TO THE BEACH, CENK?
THIS IS WHY THE ALT-RIGHT COMMUNITY LIKES TO SAY OUR
CULTURE IS BETTER.
ALL THAT IS IS YOU ARE TAKING THE MINORITY AND
CRIMINALIZING THEM.
YOU ARE CRIMINALIZING A MINORITY.
THIS IS REALLY CLEAR TO SHOW THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE HUMAN
BEINGS AND THAT CULTURES ARE VERY COMPLICATED AND THEY
HANG BY THREADS.
>>HAVE TO ADD ONE OTHER PART THAT IS IMPORTANT, THE
HIGHEST ADMINISTRATIVE COURT IN FRANCE HAS RULED THAT ONE
PARTICULAR TOWN NEEDS TO SUSPEND THEIR BURKINI BAND.
THE REASON THEY DID IT WAS TO SET PRECEDENT SO THE 30
OTHER TOWNS WOULD FOLLOW.
SO FAR THREE MAYORS HAVE SAID NO, WE ARE NOT GOING TO LISTEN.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS BAND.
SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
IT SEEMS THAT THE COURTS HAVE DECIDED THE BAN IS STUPID.
>> THE BAN IS VERY PATERNALISTIC.
TELLING WOMAN THIS IS WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU, SO LISTEN TO
OUR MEN BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS BETTER ñ
ONE OF THE LARGEST FEMINIST GROUPS IN FRANCE, I WAS
CURIOUS TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO COME OUT ON THIS.
THEY SAID THIS IS HUMILIATING MUSLIM WOMEN.
IS NOT ONLY RACIST, IT IS SEXIST.
THANKS, BUT NO THANKS ON YOUR ADVICE ON WHAT WE SHOULD
WEAR.
AND FINALLY, ALL OF THIS IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM.
>>YUP.
>>YOU ARE NOT FREE TO WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT, YOU MUST
WEAR WHAT WE WANT BECAUSE OF FREEDOM.