Body anatomy exhibition banned

THE controversial anatomy show “Our Body: The Universe Within” has been ordered to close in Paris over claims it showed no respect for the dead – and fears it used the bodies of executed prisoners.

Our Body has been open in the capital for two months but organisers have been ordered to close within 24 hours or face a 20,000 fine.

It uses the corpses of 17 Chinese men and woman and Judge Louis-Marie Raingeard said: “Under the law, the proper place for corpses is in the cemetery.”

He said the body depictions were not scientifically justifiable and the corpses had not been treated with respect.

His ruling has been dismissed as “absurd” by organiser Pascal Bernardin, of Encore Events, who said there were a score of anatomy exhibitions on display round the world that had not been banned.

Human rights groups had called for the ban over fears that that the corpses were those of executed Chinese prisoners. Organisers said this was not correct.

The show has already been on display in Lyon and Marseille and has been seen by more than 30 million people around the world.
AFP Patrick Kobarik