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Is it legal to burn a French flag in public?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: No, destroying the flag in public is forbidden. No. Showing contempt for the French flag is forbidden. This means destroying it or using it in a degrading way in public. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Le drapeau français” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Le drapeau français” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✓ No, destroying the flag in public is forbiddenNon, détruire le drapeau en public est interditCorrect answer. No. Showing contempt for the French flag is forbidden. This means destroying it or using it in a degrading way in public.
- ✗ Yes, because it is a form of freedom of expressionOui, car c'est une forme de liberté d'expressionShowing contempt for the flag means destroying or degrading it in public: that is forbidden.
- ✗ Yes, if the flag belongs to youOui, si le drapeau est à soiOwning the flag does not change the act: destroying it in public is forbidden.
- ✗ Yes, during a demonstrationOui, pendant une manifestationThis option is wrong: showing contempt for the flag means destroying it or using it in a degrading way in public, and that is forbidden.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « A-t-on le droit de brûler un drapeau français en public ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the resident card (CR). The Ministry's wording: “Peut-on brûler publiquement un drapeau français ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Le drapeau français” (French).
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