Opposed to the restrictions imposed on the pandemic, some British traders invoke the Magna Carta, founding text of modern democracy, as a justification for remaining open, even if the police do not agree.
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The Magna Carta was signed on June 15, 1215 by the King of England Jean Sans Terre under the pressure of rebel barons anxious to limit royal arbitrariness.
Citing this famous historical text, a hairdresser near Bradford, in the north of England, has become a heroine among opponents of confinement on social media.
She has accumulated 17,000 pounds (about 19,000 euros) in fines for keeping her salon open, despite the four-week confinement that began in early November in England.
Sinead Quinn regularly posts pictures on Instagram of his confrontations with representatives of local authorities and the police.
“
I don't agree to any fines,
” she told a police officer in a video posted recently.
“
I don't break any law.
I operate my business under the common law,
”the UK legal system, she says.
In another publication, Quinn quotes "
Article 61
" of Magna Carta to defend "
the right to oppose the law if we feel we are being unjustly ruled
."
Local authorities have deemed the hairstylist's attitude "
selfish and irresponsible
" during this period when all of England is under restrictions to curb the epidemic of the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 57,000 in the country, the most bereaved from Europe.
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The hairdresser is not alone in making this speech.
Other rebels invoking the Magna Carta to stay open include a tattoo parlor in Bristol and a children's playroom in Liverpool.
In any case, the police were not responsive to their arguments, imposing fines and recalling that the current law, and not that of 800 years ago, is relevant.
As a policeman explains in a video filmed at the Liverpool games room: “
The Magna Carta did not know about the Covid-19.
"
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