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Rabat – An administrative judge upheld the decision of Sisco, a small town in Corsica, to enforce a by law prohibiting any person swimming without proper attire. The burkini, which only leaves the face, hands and feet exposed, is considered “improper attire” by many French politicians.
The court has rejected the request of the Human Rights League to overturn Sisco’s recently enacted bylaw.
“Given the events of August 13, the presence of a woman wearing a bathing suit prohibited by the decree of August 16, 2016 would be in this particular circumstances of the nature of this issue generating proven risks of harm to public order is an obligation for the mayor to prevent, ” said the court’s ruling.
On August 13, a beach brawl broke out between Muslims, mostly from North Africa, and local Corsicans. Witnesses said hatchets and harpoons were used in the melee. Five people were injured, reported BBC News.
A burkini ban was enacted by the village officials on August 16.
Since the Bastille Day massacre of 86 people by a truck driver on the seafront city of Nice, tensions have grown this summer in southern France.
Nearly 30 cities have enacted burkini bans. The Highest Court in France suspended the ban in the town of Villeneuve-Loubet citing there was no legal basis for which to justify the ban on full-body swimwear. The Human Rights League had contested that case as well.
“The restrictions that [the mayor] has placed on freedoms must be justified by proven risks of breaches of public order,” declared the Council of State.
