French President Francois Hollande has chosen a controversial Ukrainian feminist known for her topless protests as the new incarnation of Marianne, one of France's national emblems, in a move that is drawing mixed reactions. Hollande chose July 14 -- Bastille Day, the country's most popular national holiday -- to unveil a new stamp inspired by Femen movement leader Inna Shevchenko. It is the first time a foreign woman has been picked to represent Marianne. One of the stamp's creators, French artist and gay-rights activist Oliver Ciappa, confirmed on Twitter that his Marianne was based chiefly >>>

It was supposed to be a straightforward new postage stamp to mark François Hollande's presidency: a more youthful depiction of Marianne, the feminine symbol of the French Republic, reflecting the Socialist president's promise to help the younger generation.Instead, the portrait has sparked a spat on the political right after one of its designers said it was partially inspired by Inna Shevchenko, a leading member of the feminist activist group Femen.The designers, David Kawena and Olivier Ciappa, had previously said their inspirations ran from the Renaissance to French comic strips and Japanese >>>

PARIS, France - A new stamp emblazoned with the face of Marianne, France's revolutionary symbol, has caused a stir after its creator said it was inspired by a Ukrainian feminist known for topless protests. The stamp, unveiled by President Francois Hollande on Sunday's national day, shows the face of a youthful, dewy-eyed Marianne from the shoulders up, her long hair flowing down and her hand raised. "For all those who ask who the model was for Marianne, >>>

Femen Germany cofounder Irina Khanova staged a one-woman demonstration on behalf of Egyptian women at the Neues Museum in Berlin. And she chose an unusual way to do it: by going topless in front of a bust of Queen Nefertiti, one of the most influential and beautiful women in Ancient Egypt. "Nefertiti is a great symbol of women, of free women, and we want to inspire and support womenin Egypt that they should come out and stop being afraid, and really fight for their rights, Khanova says in the video. Above and below Khanova's breasts were written the words "Islamism rapes Egypt", which was her way >>>

Femen activists bare breasts in Swedish mosque Posted on 11 July 2013. Members of the protest group Femen bared their breasts once more, on this occasion in a mosque in Stockholm. Three members of the Ukraine-based group, who bare their breasts in public places in various locations for a range of issues, peeled off their tops and shouted slogans such as “no Sharia, no oppression” and “free women” as police escorted them off at the weekend. The three women entered the mosque on Saturday wearing burkas. Once inside, >>>

They are a group of women activists known for protesting in the streets of the world’s largest cities, topless. They demonstrate against religious institutions, sexism, homophobia, prostitution and other national and international issues. And sometimes, they run into trouble with the authorities -- that's what happened to the leader of Ukraine’s FEMEN movement, Inna Schevchenko, who later asked for asylum in France.

Via: ibtimes.com

They are a group of women activists known for protesting in the streets of the world’s largest cities, topless. They demonstrate against religious institutions, sexism, homophobia, prostitution and other national and international issues. And sometimes, they run into trouble with the authorities -- that's what happened to the leader of Ukraine’s FEMEN movement, Inna Schevchenko, who later asked for asylum in France.

Via: ibtimes.com

PARIS — France has granted asylum to a feminist activist who hacked down a Christian cross last year in Kyiv with a chainsaw, the Ukrainian woman said on Monday. Inna Shevchenko sought asylum last February after receiving threats over the act last August — during which she was topless — which was meant as a protest against the prosecution of the Russian feminist punk band, Pussy Riot. Shevchenko destroyed a four-meter-high wooden cross bearing the figure of Christ, as a Russian court prepared >>>

France might not have been keen on granting political asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden but it emerged on Monday that Paris has agreed to take in Inna Shevchenko, the Ukranian leader of militant feminist organization Femen. French feminists face Tunis appeals trial delay (22 Jun 13) Topless Femen accost Hollande at Paris show (21 Jun 13) French feminists get jail term for topless demo (13 Jun 13) The head of the French branch of radical topless feminist group Femen, Ukrainian >>>

8 July 2013 Last updated at 16:21 GMT Inna Shevchenko says her attack on a cross targeted patriarchal religion A topless activist who used a chainsaw to fell a large cross in the centre of Kyiv says she has been granted political asylum in France. Inna Shevchenko caused outrage among many in Ukraine with her act, which she said was in sympathy with the Russian punk band Pussy Riot. The member of the activist group Femen said she had made a "strategic choice" to seek asylum >>>