French high court to hear appeal against ban on burkini

PARIS, France - The highest French administrative court will soon entertain a plea to overturn a ban imposed on women for wearing burkinis (a swimwear that covers arms, legs and hair).

The plea comes after a picture - that showed police imposing the ban on a woman visiting the beach in Nice - went viral and evoked outrage in the country.

Anouar Kbibech, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), reportedly said that he was "concerned over the direction the public debate is taking."

The case has been filed by the Human Rights League (LDH) against the decision of the lower court in Nice, to uphold a ban on the outfit by the town of Villeneuve-Loubet.

In its judgement, the court in Nice said the ban was “necessary, appropriate and proportionate to prevent public disorder.” 

The court added that the clothing was "liable to offend the religious convictions or (religious) non-convictions of other users of the beach."

The French Prime Minister Manuel Valls came out in support of the ban and argued that women wearing the burkini were testing the resistance of the French Republic.

Over 30 French cities have imposed the ban on the burkini and local Mayors have passed orders to that effect.

"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,” states the order passed by the Mayor of Cannes.

Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem however, expressed objection that a woman’s clothing should be linked to the Islamic State.

The burkini ban was met with severe criticism across the country and threw open debates on woman’s sexuality, clothing and secularism.

The ban was imposed after a militant Islamist ploughed a lorry into the crowds that had gathered at the seafront of Nice to celebrate France’s Independence Day on July 14.

Local authorities claim it is not only the fear of terrorist attacks but fear that the outfit was posing a threat to France’s secular credentials that made the ban “necessary.”

Mayors of the town supporting the ban have said that the Nice ruling was only appropriate as it “focused on ‘correct dress, respectful of accepted customs and secularism, as well as rules of hygiene and of safety in public bathing areas.”

However, criticism has been pouring from different quarters. 

Author J.K. Rowling took to Twitter to condemn the ban. “So Sarkozy calls the burkini a 'provocation.' Whether women cover or uncover their bodies, seems we're always, always 'asking for it,” she tweeted.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed its disagreement with the ban saying that “in the absence of some compelling reason - such as the infringement of the rights of others or some demonstrable safety hazard - it is important that people of different faiths be allowed to manifest their beliefs through their dress.”

Protests are being organised as far as in U.K. against the ban. Protestors in the country organised a beach party outside the French embassy, inviting women to wear bikinis or burkinis as they chose. 

“The intention was to send a message to France that women can wear what they,” explained Fariah Syed, one of the organisers of the protest.

According to an Ifop survey, 64 percent of French people are in favour of the ban while another 30 percent are indifferent.