Woman forced to remove burkini on Nice beach by armed officers

Forced to disrobe: French police confront the burkini-wearing woman on the shore at Promenade des Anglais
Forced to disrobe: French police confront the burkini-wearing woman on the shore at Promenade des Anglais Credit: Vantage News

French police made a woman remove her burkini on a Nice beach on Tuesday while another was fined in the resort of Cannes for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf.

The cases have fuelled the debate over the Islamic swimsuit ban, which has been implemented by a number of towns around France in the wake of a wave of terrorist attacks. 

The incident in the Riviera city of Nice, which was caught on camera, happened on the shore at the Promenade des Anglais, the scene of last month’s Bastille Day lorry attack.

At least four armed officers confronted the woman, who subsequently removed the garment. One of the officers is then seen either taking notes or issuing an on-the-spot fine. 

Along the coast in Cannes, a mother of two told AFP on Tuesday she had been fined on the beach for wearing leggings, a tunic and a headscarf.

Her ticket read that she was not wearing "an outfit respecting good morals and secularism".

"I was sitting on a beach with my family. I was wearing a classic headscarf. I had no intention of swimming," said the 34 year-old, who gave only her first name, Siam.

A witness to the scene, Mathilde Cousin, confirmed the incident. "The saddest thing was that people were shouting 'go home', some were applauding the police. Her daughter was crying," she told AFP.

A woman tries on a burkini
A woman tries on a burkini Credit: AFP

The controversial ban is being met with resistance and will come before France's highest administrative court on Thursday. The Human Rights League (LDH) is appealing a decision by a lower court in Nice which upheld a ban on the outfit by the town of Villeneuve-Loubet.

Villeneuve-Loubet, just west of Nice, was among the first of some 15 French towns to ban the burkini, triggering a fierce debate in France and elsewhere about the wearing of the full-body swimsuit, women's rights and secularity.

The Nice tribunal ruled on Monday that the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet was "necessary, appropriate and proportionate" to prevent public disorder after a succession of jihadists attacks in France, including the one in Nice on July 14 that killed at least 84 people.

However, one wealthy entrepreneur is fighting back by paying the fines handed out to women caught in breach of the ban.

Rachid Nekkaz 
Real estate magnate Rachid Nekkaz walks outside the national assembly with a niqab-wearing Muslim woman in protest at France's ban on full-face veils Credit: AFP

Rachid Nekkaz says he has forked out money for three women so far. “As soon as I see that France is not respecting fundamental liberties, I always get my cheque book out,” Mr Nekkaz said.

 

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