A woman in the South of France has been detained by police after being caught smiling in a Marseilles street.
France is the first country to pass legislation prohibiting anyone from "facially expressing positive thoughts" in public.
The French Culture Minister Jacques be Bonville confirmed that the first arrest under the new legislation had taken place :
"The French nation is determined to stick to the perception that all of us are grumpy and short tempered. That is essential if we are to make sure that nobody takes advantage of us or otherwise regards us a s soft targets. Anyone who does anything to threaten this miserable persona will be dealt with under the full force of the law.
The culprit in Marseilles certainly falls into that category and they can expect a stiff sentence".
Although no official confirmation has been received, its understood that the illegal smiler could face anything up to 10 years hard labour or an alternative punishment of being injected with the Moebius Syndrome virus, which prevents sufferers from smiling.
