French prime minister backs local burqini bans, urges calm

3 Riviera towns have prohibited the modest Muslim swimwear on their beaches

PARIS — France’s prime minister is expressing support for local bans of burqini swimsuits, saying the swimwear is based on the “enslavement of women” and therefore not compatible with French values.

However, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Wednesday in the La Provence newspaper that he’s not in favor of a national law against them.

Three French Mediterranean towns have banned the burqini, citing security concerns after a summer marred by extremist attacks. Critics say the bans are discriminatory.

Valls said the swimwear represents a “provocation” and an “archaic vision” that women are “immodest, impure and that they should therefore be totally covered.” The Socialist premier also warned that the far-right is profiting from the burqini tensions.

Burqinis, which cover the head and body, are very rare in France.