‘Burkinis’ Banned in Cannes
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In a controversial move, the French resort Cannes has banned ‘burkinis’ from its beaches, claiming that it is an issue of social security.
The resort, which is famous for its annual film festival, has banned the head-covering, full-body swimsuits that are most commonly worn by some Muslim women for religious reasons. The ban has come at the peak of the French Riviera vacation season, yet also at a time when France is still at its height of fear of terrorist activity following attacks on Paris and Nice in the last year.
The government of Cannes are claiming that new laws regarding swimwear are in the interest of security from further terrorist attacks. The mayor, David Lisnard, issued an ordinance which banned from Cannes beachwear that does not respect “good morals and secularism.” Lisnard further went on to discuss the potential threat against national security, suggesting that swimwear “manifesting religious affiliation in an ostentatious way, while France and its religious sites are currently the target of terrorist attacks, could create risks of trouble to public order.”
The reported penalty for those who break the new laws regarding swimwear which could apply to ‘burkinis’ is a fine of around £35.