DOZENS of French celebrities, including famed actress Catherine Deneuve, have signed a petition against government plans to crack down on those who pay for sex, reports The Australian.
"Without supporting or promoting prostitution, we refuse the penalisation of those who prostitute themselves and those who seek their services," read the petition published in French media yesterday.
"We demand a real debate without ideological prejudice," said the text, signed by about 60 people, including rock stars, filmmakers and a former culture minister.
A proposed anti-prostitution law will come before the National Assembly on November 27 and 29. The bill seeks to penalise clients instead of sex workers in a bid to phase out prostitution.
It seeks to impose a 1500-euro ($2160) fine on those paying for sex, and double that if the person is caught doing it again.
Read more of this report from The Australian.
Read Mediapart's coverage of the story here.