Court Suspends Ban on Burkinis in Southern French Town | Sojourners

Court Suspends Ban on Burkinis in Southern French Town

Image via Giorgio Montersino/Flickr

In a "test case" for the southern French town of Villeneuve-Loubet, France's highest court overturned a ruling that bans on burkinis were required to prevent public disorder, reports The Guardian.

According to The Guardian,

The bans – made in the form of mayoral decrees – followed the Bastille Day attack in Nice and the murder of a priest in Normandy.

They do not explicitly use the word burkini but instead ban “beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation”, citing reasons such as the need to protect public order, hygiene or French laws on secularism.

The ban is still pending a definitive ruling, but this case - brought to Villeneuve-Loubet by human rights groups - may prove an example for other towns across France.

Read more about the suspension.