FRANCE – Court Strikes Down Burkini Ban on Côte d’Azur Beach

PARIS, September 14 /ATSH-DPA/ – A court in Nice has struck down the burkini ban on the beach of the resort town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, in France’s Côte d’Azur region.

The burkini is a beach garment that covers almost the entire body and is used by many Muslim women.

The Administrative Court of Nice ruled that banning the garment seriously and unlawfully violated three fundamental rights: freedom of movement, freedom of conscience and personal liberty.

The municipality of Mandelieu-la-Napoule had justified the ban with the argument that such garments, which may indicate religious affiliation, could pose a threat to public order.

But the court said no evidence had been presented to support this claim.

The municipality had cited only two incidents that occurred 10 and 14 years ago.

The court also stressed that there was no evidence the garment posed a risk to the safety of people on the beach or swimmers.

The decision brings back to the center of attention France’s long debate on the hijab and Muslim religious clothing for women.

France is a secular state, which means the state and religious institutions are separate.

For this reason, the use of religious symbols in public spaces has been a debatable issue in the country for years, especially regarding Islam.

Mandelieu-la-Napoule first banned the burkini in 2012, while the town’s conservative mayor has renewed the ban several times, despite previous rulings against it.