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French Riviera Bans ‘Burkinis’ To Make People Safer

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Jacob Bojesson Foreign Correspondent
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The city of Cannes along the French riviera issued a ban Friday against clothing that doesn’t display “good morals and secularism.”

Cannes Mayor David Lisnard signed the ordinance forbidding “burkinis,” full-body, head-covering swimsuits, sometimes worn by Muslim women. The ordinance says these outfits can disrupt the public order during a time when the country is on high alert for more terror attacks. (RELATED: French Students Now Have To Take Classes In Terror Attack Survival)

“Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order, which it is necessary to prevent,” the ordinance reads.

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Woman wearing a ‘burkini.’ (Photo credit: Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko / Shutterstock.com)

Twenty-year-old trainee volunteer surf life saver Mecca Laalaa runs along North Cronulla Beach in Sydney during her Bronze medallion competency test January 13, 2007. Specifically designed for Muslim women, Laalaa's body-covering swimming costume has been named the "burkini" by its Sydney based designer Aheda Zanetti. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA)

Twenty-year-old trainee volunteer surf life saver Mecca Laalaa runs along North Cronulla Beach in Sydney. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA)

 

The announcement of the ban was met with opposition from Islamic groups and human rights activists.

“This is abuse of the law and we reserve the right to take this to the courts,” said Hervé Lavisse, president of the local section of the Human Rights League, according to The Telegraph. “What next? Morality police like in the land of the Mullahs.”

Lisnard responded to the criticism by saying the ban only forbids “a uniform that is the symbol Islamist extremism.”

A “burkini day” event scheduled for September in the city of Marseille was cancelled after organizers received death threats.

Violators are subject to a 38 euros fine ($44). Religious symbols will still be allowed on the beaches.

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