Frederic Durand-Baissas, a 59-year-old Parisian teacher and art lover, poses during an interview in Paris, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Durand-Baissas, whose Facebook account was suspended in 2011 after he posted a photo of Gustave Courbet's 1866 painting "The Origin of the World," which depicts female genitalia, is suing the California-based social network Facebook for alleged "censorship". (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours) A French teacher is suing Facebook for alleged censorship because his account got suspended in 2011 after he posted a photo of a famous 19th-century nude painting.
After years of legal battle by Facebook to escape a trial in France, a Paris civil court is set to hear the case Thursday.
The account was suspended hours after Frederic Durand-Baissas, a 59-year-old Parisian teacher and art lover, posted a photo of Gustave Courbet's 1866 painting "The Origin of the World," which depicts female genitalia.
Durand-Baissas wants his account reactivated and is asking for 20,000 euros ($23,500) in damages. He also wants Facebook to explain why his account was closed.
Facebook has since changed its standards policy to now allow photographs of nude figures in art.
In this Feb.12 2016 file photo,visitors watch Gustave Courbet's 1866 "The Origin of the World," at Musee d'Orsay museum, in Paris. A French teacher, whose Facebook account was suspended in 2011 after he posted a photo of a famous 19th-century nude painting, is suing Thursday Feb. 1, 2018 the California-based social network Facebook for alleged "censorship". Frederic Durand-Baissas, a 59-year-old Parisian teacher and art lover, posted a photo of "The Origin of the World," which depicts female genitalia. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File) 
In this Feb.12 2016 file photo, a visitor takes a picture of Gustave Courbet's 1866 "The Origin of the World," at Musee d'Orsay museum, in Paris. A French teacher, whose Facebook account was suspended in 2011 after he posted a photo of a famous 19th-century nude painting, is suing Thursday Feb. 1, 2018 the California-based social network Facebook for alleged "censorship". Frederic Durand-Baissas, a 59-year-old Parisian teacher and art lover, posted a photo of "The Origin of the World," which depicts female genitalia. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
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