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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Two Dutch political parties called Wednesday for laws prohibiting sex with animals after a man suspected of having sex with a pony was set free.

Wearing nothing but a T-shirt, the man was arrested by police in Utrecht Monday after the pony's owner caught him by surprise in his stable.

“He was caught in the stable, busy with the pony, and was arrested for animal mistreatment,” Mary Hallebeek, a prosecution spokeswoman said.

The prosecutor set him free because there was no evidence of a crime. Dutch law does not prohibit bestiality.

“There were no wounds or traces of violence. The man may have had sex with the animal, but there is no article in law which says this is liable to punishment,” Hallebeek said.

So who are the defenders of Dutch public decency, proposing to make such acts illegal? The majority Christian Democrats?

Well, no, at least not yet; it's the Socialists, along with the party of Pim Fortuyn, the flamboyantly gay pol who was assassinated two years ago. Of course, the reason for their opposition is telling:

“Sex with an animal is a far-reaching infringement of its physical integrity and the animal can never consent to it. It is pure maltreatment and should therefore be punishable,” LPF [List Pim Fortuyn] member Joost Eerdmans said in parliament.

Glad we got that cleared up. (Via Drudge.)