French court overturns burkini ban on Riviera beach

A French administrative court in Nice has struck down a ban on burkinis at beaches in the Riviera resort of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, overturning restrictions on the full-body swimwear worn by some Muslim women.

The court ruled Friday that the ban constituted a serious and unlawful infringement of three fundamental freedoms: freedom of movement, freedom of conscience and personal liberty.

No evidence of public order threat

Mandelieu-la-Napoule authorities had argued that clothing such as the burkini, which can visibly express religious affiliation, posed a threat to public order.

The judges rejected the justification, saying the municipality had provided no evidence that the garments created a safety risk for beach-goers or swimmers.

The court noted that local authorities had cited only two incidents, dating back 10 and 14 years, as grounds for the restriction.

Long-running French debate

The ruling is the latest development in France’s long-running and often heated debate over Islamic clothing, including the headscarf and burkini.

France’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, previously overturned a municipal burkini ban, but some coastal towns have continued to impose or renew restrictions during the summer.

Mandelieu-la-Napoule was the first seaside resort to introduce such a ban in 2012. Despite the national court’s earlier ruling, the town’s conservative mayor has repeatedly renewed the measure.

The Nice court’s decision now removes the latest local restriction, reinforcing the principle that limits on religiously associated clothing must be supported by concrete evidence of a threat to public order.

Source:DPA