French burkini ban faces fresh legal challenge
Top administrative authority to decide within days whether prohibition on full-body swimsuit in several towns is lawful
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PARIS — France’s highest administrative authority is studying whether local bans on full-body burkini swimsuits are legal, amid growing concerns about police forcing Muslim women to disrobe.
Images of uniformed police appearing to require a woman to take off her tunic, and media accounts of similar incidents, have elicited shock and anger online this week.
Several towns in strictly secular France have banned burkinis this summer, but some fear they are worsening religious tensions.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls told BFM television that burkinis represent “the enslavement of women,” but said enforcement of the bans must be handled respectfully.
Armed French police begin enforcing new bans on the "burkini," or full-body bathing suits https://t.co/UNTd308Nzn pic.twitter.com/AwbJITY24Q
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 25, 2016
Rights groups argue the bans are discriminatory and have appealed to the Council of State, which holds a hearing Thursday.
A decision on whether to overturn the bans is expected within 48 hours.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
The Times of Israel Community.