The Mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, is offended by women being able to dress how they like in the sun, and has banned burkinis on the beaches of the French Riviera. Burkinis are full-body swimsuits that allow women to cover their bodies while still being able to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand a typical beach has to offer. Nigella Lawson rocked one a few years back to protect her skin, but they are most commonly worn by Muslim women looking to dress modestly.
This ruling comes despite the fact that French women are covering up on the beach more than ever and topless sunbathing on the south of France has been declining for years. Lisnard called burkinis "the symbol of Islamic extremism" and added that they could disrupt public order, reported French news agency Agence-France Presse.
Lisnard said anyone "wearing improper clothes that are not respectful of good morals and secularism" would be banned from accessing beaches. "Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order," he added.
Anyone caught ignoring the burkini ban will be fined €38 (approximately $43) if they fail to leave the beach or change into another swimsuit. Cannes will still allow other religious symbols, such as the kippah, Jewish skullcap, and the Christian cross on the beach. Muslim women will still be permitted to wear the veil over their hair. According to reports, no one has been caught wearing a burkini since the ban was enacted in late July. Many have voiced opposition to the ban and The League of Human Rights (LDH), a human rights NGO in France, said it would challenge it in court. Local LDH leader Hervé Lavisse said politicians in the region should "calm their discriminatory ardor and defend the spirit of the Republic," the BBC reported.
Earlier this week, a private burkini pool party for Muslim women in nearby Marseille was cancelled after it was deemed a "threat to public order."
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