PARIS: Anti-racism organisations and human rights groups
vowed on Friday to overturn a “deeply worrying” ban on the wearing of
Burqinis — full-body swimsuits — on the beaches of Cannes, the French
Riviera resort famous for its annual film festival.
Cannes’
mayor David Lisnard signed off on the ruling that “access to beaches
and for swimming is banned to anyone who does not have (bathing apparel)
which respects good customs and secularism,” which is a founding
principle of the French republic.
SOS Racisme attacked what it said was the mayor’s “strategy of tension”.
An
umbrella organisation of groups against Islamophobia, the CCIF, said it
was “deeply worried” about the ban, which it viewed as “a new attack on
the most basic principles of law”. It said it was planning to oppose
the ban in the courts.
The ban also came under fire from
the Socialist Party, who are in opposition to the centre-right
Republicans who control Cannes. The local Socialist branch said the
Burqini ban was an attempt at grabbing headlines which would “play into
the hands of religious fundamentalists”.
Thierry Migoule,
head of municipal services in Cannes, sought to clarify the intent of
the Burqini ban, which is in place until August 31.
“We
are not talking about banning the wearing of religious symbols on the
beach... but ostentatious clothing which refers to an allegiance to
terrorist movements which are at war with us,” he said.
The
issue comes at a highly sensitive time for relations with Muslims in
France after two attacks last month linked to the militant Islamic State
(IS) group.
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