France convicts first person under new anti-catcalling law
Man who harassed woman on Paris bus has been fined and jailed for three months

A 30-year-old man has become the first person to be fined under a new law in France that outlaws catcalling.
The man was reportedly “extremely drunk” when he boarded a bus in Paris during rush hour last week, according to Quartz. He then “slapped a 21-year-old woman on her behind”, before telling her, “you have big breasts”, reports French newspaper Le Monde.
The woman is understood to have complained to the bus driver, who was attacked by the assailant after confronting him.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This month marked the launch of new legislation, passed by French lawmakers in August, under which catcallers can be hit with fines of up to €750 (£670) for their behaviour.
Yesterday a judge in Evry, south of Paris, invoked the new law to hand a €300 (£268) fine to the accused man, whose name has not been released. The assailant was also jailed for three months for slapping the woman and attacking the bus driver.
“This is the first conviction for sexist insults in the country,” a Justice Ministry spokesperson confirmed to Paris-based news agency AFP. Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa applauded the court ruling in a tweet.
Schiappa, was instrumental in passing the outrage sexiste (sexist insult) law, Inquisitr reports.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Pressure to enact tougher penalties for street harassment “was partly fuelled by a viral video of a 22-year-old architecture student being harassed while she walks past a Parisian cafe, only to be punched by the same man seconds later”, adds Quartz. The footage sparked widespread outrage after being shared online in July.
-
Can US tourism survive Trump's policies?
Today's Big Question The tourist economy is 'heading in the wrong direction'
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosis
the week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
-
'Total rat eradication in New York has been deemed impossible'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month