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[RustyNails]

Cannes bans burkinis over suspected link to radical Islamism

The mayor of Cannes in southern France has banned full-body swimsuits known as "burkinis" from the beach, citing public order concerns.

David Lisnard said they are a "symbol of Islamic extremism" and might spark scuffles, as France is the target of Islamist attacks.

France is on high alert following a series of incidents including July's truck attack in nearby Nice.

Anyone caught flouting the new rule could face a fine of €38 (£33).

They will first be asked to change into another swimming costume or leave the beach.

Nobody has been apprehended for wearing a burkini in Cannes since the edict came into force at the end of July.

This is not the first time that women's clothing has been restricted in France. In 2011 it became the first country in Europe to ban the full-face Islamic veil, known as the burka, as well as the partial face covering, the niqab.

Earlier this week a private waterpark near Marseille cancelled a burkini-only day after being subjected to criticism.

"Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to any person wearing improper clothes that are not respectful of good morals and secularism.

"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."

The French media has questioned the legality of the ban. Le Monde points out that no French law bans the wearing of full-body swimsuits. "The law on the full-face veil only bans covering the face in public... The burkini, which covers the body but does not hide the face, is thus a totally legal garment."

France TV Info's legal blog, Judge Marie, says the risk of disturbing public order, invoked by the Cannes mayor, seems rather tenuous. "The basic freedom to come and go dressed as you please seems to me to be infringed in a way that is disproportionate to this risk," the blog says.

Meanwhile, a commentary in left-of-centre paper Liberation accuses the Cannes mayor of trying to score a political point: "David Lisnard… is not responding to a specific issue, but is sending a radical message to his constituents, to his electorate."

Mr Lisnard confirmed to local media that other religious symbols such as the kippah (Jewish skullcap) and the cross would still be permitted, and the ban would not apply to the veil that some Muslim women wear over their hair.

He said: "I simply forbid a uniform that is the symbol of Islamic extremism.

"We live in a common public space, there are rules to follow. "

The League of Human Rights (LDH) said it would challenge the ban in court.

"It is time for politicians in this region to calm their discriminatory ardour and defend the spirit of the Republic," local LDH leader Herve Lavisse said.

The Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) is also expected to mount a legal challenge against the decision. Its lawyer Sefen Guez Guez called the ban "illegal, discriminatory and unconstitutional".

The authorities will need to distinguish between swimmers in burkinis and wetsuits

 

[shadowsdarknes]

Seems ridiculous.

 

[saelz8]

What does this accomplish?

 

[victreeb3l]

Stupid ban. Does nothing but marginalize a group of people.

 

[Wanda/Wander]

Design a law to combat a religion that tells women what to wear, by...telling women what to wear? What?

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

Ridiculous. Is that even legal?

 

[Lamel]

The Burkini is a symbol of Islamic extremism? What idiots.

Not only does this suggest that symbols of Islam are not compatible with "good morals" (and by extension, neither are Muslims), but it's a very slippery slope towards what "disturbs the public order".

 

[Cake Boss]

Fucking France is such a shithole.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Symbols of Islamic Extremism?

They actually use that as their reasoning?

 

[sphagnum]

This is incredibly stupid.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

If they are gonna do this they should just forbid kids from being religious until 13 (age of criminal responsibility in France) among all religions, which I'd be all for.

 

[Supermanisdead]

Fucking idiots

 

[Makonero]

Man, Aquaman got old.

 

[FStop7]

Cannes and Nice are close to each other and I can understand that people in the area are still reeling from the Bastille Day attack. But this is the wrong direction.

 

[Tansut]

Seems ridiculous.

That's because it is.

 

[HStallion]

Why don't they just ban the Koran while they're at it since that incites religious extremists as well. What a joke.

 

[Spiral Insanity]

This is stupid.

 

[Jacobi]

Burkas and Burkinis are stupid, so I have nothing against it.

 

[His Majesty]

Banning burka's is perfectly fine but to me it doesn't seem like burkini's provide face coverage.

 

[Stumpokapow]

if we're really going to police beach fashion faux pas can we start with crispy europeans who have been baking on nude beaches for 35 years and look like their skin is fried chinese duck... or dads who are self conscious about their bodies so they wear t-shirts while swimming which in turn draws attention to their beer gut?

 

[Tiberius]

The Burkini is a symbol of Islamic extremism? What idiots.

Not only does this suggest that symbols of Islam are not compatible with "good morals" (and by extension, neither are Muslims), but it's a very slippery slope towards what "disturbs the public order".

You think burkini is a symbol of moderate islam ?

Burkini, like the burqua show a radicalist view of islam

 

[Beartruck]

Burkas and Burkinis are stupid, so I have nothing against it.

I don't like your avatar, lets ban you. Same logic right?

Marginalizing an entire group of people just because you disagree with them doesn't make it ok. Believe or not, some of those people enjoy wearing that.

 

[Gutek]

if we're really going to police beach fashion faux pas can we start with crispy europeans who have been baking on nude beaches for 35 years and look like their skin is fried chinese duck... or dads who are self conscious about their bodies so they wear t-shirts while swimming which in turn draws attention to their beer gut?

Don't be so disingenuous. This is not about fashion, but people being scared of Muslims and the bombs they hide under their clothing.

 

[HStallion]

Don't be so disingenuous. This is not about fashion, but people being scared of Muslims and the bombs they hide under their clothing.

If you mean what I think you mean then you're a real piece of work.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Oh boy

 

[Mr. Giggles]

You think burkini is a symbol of moderate islam ?

Burkini, like the burqua show a radicalist view of islam

What?

Receipts please

 

[cloudstrife]

You think burkini is a symbol of moderate islam ?

Burkini, like the burqua show a radicalist view of islam

The Burkini is moderate, actually.

It has no association with the burqa.

 

[JP_]

Wetsuit sales to go up

 

[Jacobi]

The Burkini is moderate, actually.

It has no association with the burqa.

Less moderate than some muslim countries in 1960

 

[Valhelm]

This really seems like a step too far. I can't see how this will promote assimilation and secularism.

 

[GrizzleBoy]

Don't be so disingenuous. This is not about fashion, but people being scared of Muslims and the bombs they hide under their clothing.

What are you doing?

 

[Jeels]

Burkas and Burkinis are stupid, so I have nothing against it.

Why can't a woman choose to wear what she wants? How are burkinis anymore stupid than a wet suit?

 

[uncleniccius]

If you mean what I think you mean then you're a real piece of work.

What are you doing?

Unless I've misinterpreted he's mocking the idiocy of people who think that way, not actual Muslims?

Not sure if you guys are joking or something but it certainly doesn't sound serious to me.

 

[CalamityPixel]

If you mean what I think you mean then you're a real piece of work.

I don't think he means it as his own view. It's a ridiculous view but a lot of people share it regards to being against muslims. A ridiculous view, but one I've heard from people a lot.

 

[PdotMichael]

Why can't a woman choose to wear what she wants? How are burkinis anymore stupid than a wet suit?

Well, that's kind of the problem here.

 

[Extra Sauce]

This is the kind of dumb shit that can contribute to the radicalization of minorities.

 

[Tiberius]

The Burkini is moderate, actually.

It has no association with the burqa.

I don't think that the ideology that woman must hide themselves is something moderate

 

[Mr. Giggles]

Well, that's kind of the problem here.

What if chooses to wear a Burkini...

 

[Gutek]

I don't think he means it as his own view. It's a ridiculous view but a lot of people share it regards to being against muslims. A ridiculous view, but one I've heard from people a lot.

The bomb thing is the only explanation that makes sense to me, however ridiculous it is.

 

[RK9039]

if we're really going to police beach fashion faux pas can we start with crispy europeans who have been baking on nude beaches for 35 years and look like their skin is fried chinese duck... or dads who are self conscious about their bodies so they wear t-shirts while swimming which in turn draws attention to their beer gut?

So true mate, literally went through the park this morning and there was at least 6 or 7 red people just laying there motionless. As soon as the sun comes out people get naked here.

Anyway, this ban is stupid. All people have to do is wear wet suits, lmao, it's the same thing.

 

[King_Moc]

If you bring in prejudicial laws against a set group of people, you will totally reduce any radicalisation that's taking place among them...

Don't be so disingenuous. This is not about fashion, but people being scared of Muslims and the bombs they hide under their clothing.

You might want to rethink your post a bit.

 

[GusBus]

Reasonable. Outward displays of religion should be banned in public spaces, without exception.

 

[Valhelm]

Well, that's kind of the problem here.

I know where you're going with this, but many Muslim women really do want to wear conservative clothing. Obviously these choices are heavily informed by the sexism unfortunately inherent in Islam, but refusing women this choice does more harm than good.

Instead of banning the expression of bigotry, it really makes more sense to try and prevent bigots from holding dangerous views against women or other vulnerable groups.

 

[nilbog21]

Fucking France is such a shithole.

how are posts like this allowed on this forum ?

 

[JP_]

Less moderate than some muslim countries in 1960

Someone chooses to wear this to the beach. How are they a threat? What damages did they cause?

And wetsuits are still allowed.

It's simply religious oppression, 100%.

 

[sphagnum]

I don't think that the ideology that woman must hide themselves is something moderate

It shouldn't be up to you whether or not a woman chooses to identify with more conservative tendencies of her religion.

 

[waveuponwave]

So after centuries of telling women not to show too much skin we're starting to tell them covering too much is bad, too? right

Limiting personal freedoms is not the way to combat extremism

Forcing a woman to wear a burkini: wrong.
Forbidding her to wear one: also wrong

This sholdn't be hard, for fuck's sake

 

[Camwi]

Why can't a woman choose to wear what she wants? How are burkinis anymore stupid than a wet suit?

Because wet suits serve an actual purpose

 

[PdotMichael]

What if chooses to wear a Burkini...

Well, we can play that game and act like that all women love to wear Burkas, Burkinis and all full body stuff and ignore the pressure on those girls and women from the family and social group.
I mean I bet all my old female muslim classmates totally didn't want to attend swim classes and class trips on their own.

 

[Pastry]

I have no idea why France has such problems assimilating immigrants.