Filmed by a Latvian tourist passing through Paris,
A video of a man kneeling above the flame of the unknown soldier to light a cigarette there arouses an outcry on social networks and in the rows of the RN.
Died tourists, and a man visibly very comfortable. Since Tuesday August 5 around 7:30 am, a video published on social networks has aroused the ire of Internet users. In front of a dozen people who came to contemplate the tomb of the unknown soldier, an burial installed under the Arc de Triomphe since November 11, 1920 in memory of soldiers who died for France during the First World War, a man passed the barriers to kneel on the overturned shield where the flame crackles. And use the fire to light your cigarette, before spaning the grids again, without saying a word or turning.
According to information collected by the Figarothe video would have been shot by a Latvian tourist on Monday August 4 shortly before 9 p.m., and posted for the first time on the Tiktok social network in stride, before being massively shared on Twitter. “He didn’t seem to be alcoholic or under the influence of drugs. On the contrary, he was manifestly aware of what he was doing, and proud to have done it ”assures the one who presents herself as the author of the video at Figaro.
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“No respect”, “I have no more words”, “But in which country do we live?” Respect our dead “,” it’s an insult to the nation “insurgated the users of the social network X (ex-owner) throughout the day, as are several officials of the national rally. “This gesture defiles the memory of our soldiers who shed their blood for our freedom”denounced the deputy to the European Parliament and spokesperson of the Matthieu Valet party. “This flame does not only symbolize a memory: it embodies the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom. So is it, is trampling on respect and honor ”he has on his side reacts the deputy of the Eure of the RN Katiana Levavassur.
On the first time on November 11, 1923 by André Maginot, Minister of War and Pensions under President Alexandre Millerand, three years after the setting of the tomb, the flame of the unknown soldier has a highly symbolic role. “His palpitation will reach this high result of forcing all passers -by to a second of meditation. This second will encourage them to a rapid examination of consciousness, to this recall of the necessary virtues when duty, honor or simple necessity call us ”had imagined the writer and journalist Gabriel Boissy (died in 1949), who had launched the idea before it was taken up by two ministers at the time, according to words reported on the website of the Flame association.
Revived every day at 6.30 p.m. according to a specific protocol, it has already been degraded in the past, especially during demonstrations of yellow vests in 2018. Article 225-17 of the Criminal Code provides that “Violation or desecration, by any means whatsoever, of tombs, burials, cinema urns or monuments built in memory of the dead” East “punished by one year imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros ”. According to information transmitted to Parisianan investigation was opened.