French govt defends topless sunbathing

France’s interior minister Gérald Darmanin has defended topless sunbathing after police asked a group of women on a Mediterranean beach to cover up.

He condemned the police action for asking the women to put on cloth.

The minister tweeted that freedom is a precious commodity.

The three were approached by officers on the beach in Sainte-Marie-La-Mer, following a request from a family concerned about children present.

The incident generated a huge backlash against the officers.