LexisNexis Global

Frédéric Mitterand, France’s Culture Minister, vigorously defended Roman Polanski when the film director was arrested by the Swiss on an outstanding U.S. warrant. Polanski fled the United States and has lived in France to avoid punishment for drugging and sodomizing a 13-year-old girl. Polanski had pled guilty but fled before sentence could be imposed.

This is a case of one predator jumping to the defense of another. Mitterand’s 2005 autobiography reveals how he has enjoyed trips to Thailand brothels to pay for sex with “young boys.” Although Mitterand now contends he meant paying for sex with adults, there was no such clarification until the current uproar over his defense of Polanski. Given what is now well known about the sex industry in Thailand, it is highly likely that, even if Mitterand’s partners were technically “adults” when he had his tryst with them, they were more than likely brought into that industry as under-aged sex slaves, and would find trying to leave that condition difficult, if not life-threatening

Regardless of the age of his victims, it is clear that Mitterand has financially supported and been sexually gratified by Thai sex tourism. Will Polanski reciprocate by rushing to Mitterand’s defense?

This is not an issue of consensual sex between adults or even between adults and minors (assuming the minor can consent). Mitterand was a sex tourist who directly or indirectly supported human trafficking both by his conduct and by his boasting about it in his autobiography. Polanski preyed upon a drugged minor who lacked the capacity to consent even if she had been old enough to do so.

Some will argue that the cultural and artistic contributions by these men outweigh the gravity of their crimes. Tell that to their victims.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy should take a stand for human rights by demanding Mitterand’s resignation and making it clear that Polanski is persona non grata in French territory. This is not a matter of savoir faire; it is a matter of upholding fundamental human rights and human dignity.

• French Minister Facing Calls to Resign Over Sex Tourism Claims, Digital Journal (Oct. 8, 2009).
• Paolo Totaro and Gerard Wright, Roman Polanski: the final cut?, The Age (Oct. 3, 2009).
• Polanski Victim’s Grand Jury Testimony, The Smoking Gun (June 10, 2008)
• Roman Polanski Plea Transcript, The Smoking Gun (Sept. 28, 2009).