8.3 C
London
Friday, March 29, 2024

Nice joins wave of French towns banning burkinis

Must read

The city of Nice, still shaken by last month’s deadly extremist attack, has joined a growing list of French sites to ban the body-covering burkini swimsuit.

Leading officials argue that the swimwear, resembling a full-body wetsuit with a hood, oppresses women and violates France’s secular principles.

But many see the bans as discriminatory.

Nice was devastated when a truck driver attacked crowds watching fireworks on July 14, killing 85 people in violence claimed by the Islamic State group.

About a third of the victims were from Nice’s large Muslim community, which is both in mourning and fearing a backlash.

The Nice administration issued an order on Thursday banning swimwear with religious connotations, citing security concerns.

Several other cities on France’s Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts have banned burkinis this summer.

- Advertisement -

More articles

- Advertisement -

Latest article