A tribunal in the city previously ruled a burkini ban in the Villeneuve-Loubet resort was “necessary, appropriate and proportionate” to prevent public disorder. Villeneuve-Loubet’s right-wing mayor, Lionnel Luca, has said swimming in long sleeves and trousers is unhygienic, but a tribunal in Nice said the Villeneuve-Loubet ban was “necessary, appropriate, and proportionate” to keep the peace in the town.
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The burkini – and the decisions to ban wearing them on beaches – has become the focus of spirited global debates over women’s rights, assimilation and secularism.
But the ruling, which only applied to the ban imposed by Villeneuve-Loubet, was quickly dismissed by several other towns, including Nice, which vowed to keep the restrictions in place and continue imposing fines on women who wear the full-body swimsuit. But more than 20 mayors from other southern towns, which were expected to comply from the precedent set by the court, have ignored its decision. “If not, legal actions could be taken” against those towns.
Nevertheless, the mayor of the Corsican town of Sisco said he wouldn’t lift the ban he imposed after an August 13 clash on a beach.
“Here the tension is very, very, very high and I won’t withdraw it”, Ange-Pierre Vivoni said on BFM-TV.
The so-called burkini ban has ignited fierce debate in France and worldwide.
The ban – which is now in place in 15 towns in France – was issued following the Bastille Day attack in Nice and the murder of a priest in Normandy.
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who launched his bid last week to run for presidency again in next year’s election, said wearing a burkini was a political act and a provocation and called for a law that will allow mayors to ban it.
The daylong conference bringing together Muslim leaders, civil society and others is the latest step in creating an “Islam of France” that respects French secular values.
“The rule of law is the essence of our Republic”.
Manuel Valls, the French Prime Minister, said he was not in favour of nationwide legislation but appeared to support the law in principle by claiming the burkini was “based on the enslavement of women”.
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Amnesty International praised the court decision Friday, calling the local decrees “invasive and discriminatory” and saying their enforcement has led to “abuses and the degrading treatment of Muslim women and girls”.
