French banned from 'Mona Lisa smile' on photo IDs
Oliver Gee - [email protected]
Published: 30 Sep, 2016 CET.
Updated: Fri 30 Sep 2016 09:17 CET
A Paris court has ruled that the French can't do a "Mona Lisa" smile on their ID cards, after a disgruntled Frenchman fought for his fellow citizens' right to be cheerful.
The Paris Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that the French would have to have a "neutral face" on their passport photos.
This means, the court said, that "the requirement of a neutral expression excludes by its very nature any kind of expression like a smile".
The case began when a French civil servant decided to try and change the law "and give the depressed nation a morale boost".
After getting his own photo rejected by authorities, the Frenchman claimed that he wasn't actually smiling and actually had a neutral face - it's just that the corners of his mouth were raised.
The lawyer who took on the court of appeals had said that allowing a smile would give France's morale a boost.
"Is it really responsible, in a depressed France, that the authorities forbid the French from smiling?" the lawyer said.
While the Frenchman may have lost the case, he can at least be glad to have prompted a few smiles across France.
"For several days now French people have been contacting me to show their support," he told the L'Express newspaper.
"Now I have an army of smiles at my side."
Comments
See Also
The Paris Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that the French would have to have a "neutral face" on their passport photos.
This means, the court said, that "the requirement of a neutral expression excludes by its very nature any kind of expression like a smile".
The case began when a French civil servant decided to try and change the law "and give the depressed nation a morale boost".
After getting his own photo rejected by authorities, the Frenchman claimed that he wasn't actually smiling and actually had a neutral face - it's just that the corners of his mouth were raised.
The lawyer who took on the court of appeals had said that allowing a smile would give France's morale a boost.
"Is it really responsible, in a depressed France, that the authorities forbid the French from smiling?" the lawyer said.
While the Frenchman may have lost the case, he can at least be glad to have prompted a few smiles across France.
"For several days now French people have been contacting me to show their support," he told the L'Express newspaper.
"Now I have an army of smiles at my side."
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.