Swedish topless activist acquitted of disorderly conduct

our dpa-correspondent and Europe Online

Stockholm (dpa) - A member of the feminist group Femen was acquitted
Tuesday of disorderly conduct after staging a topless protest against
a rally held by a Swedish offshoot of the German anti-Islam movement
Pegida.

The incident took place in February in the southern city of Malmo
where about 100 Pegida supporters had gathered.

Jenny Wenhammar scaled a fence and removed her top to reveal the text
"No Pegidization" on her chest. On her back she had a logo for Femen,
a group of Ukrainian origin, known for its topless protests.

She was quickly dragged from the scene by police officers.

The prosecutor had requested that Wennhammar be fined 800 kronor (95
dollars) over the stunt, labelled as disorderly conduct.

The Malmo district court, however, ruled that the anti-Pegida message
likely aggravated the Pegida supporters more than Wennhammar‘s lack
of a top.

In addition, the legal system should show restraint when considering
punishing legal freedom of speech protests even if they were conveyed
in an unusual manner, the ruling said.

Wennhammar has been convicted over similar topless protests staged at
the main mosque in Stockholm and the Russian embassy.

During the recent court hearing, another Femen supporter displayed
her bare breasts in sympathy with Wennhammar and was led away.

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