Burkini ban would be unconstitutional and fuel tensions, says French interior minister
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says law prohibiting the modest swimwear would stoke tensions when France needs ‘healing’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A law to ban the burkini in France would fuel tensions between communities and would be unconstitutional and ineffective, French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said.
France’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, ruled on Friday against a decision by the mayor of resort town Villeneuve-Loubet to ban the full-body swimwear.
Mayors from around 30 French towns along the Riviera have enforced the ban; many of whom have said they will refuse to back down on their decision despite the recent court ruling.
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who plans to run for President again in next year’s election, said the wearing of a burkini was a political act and said he would bring in a nationwide ban if he returned to power.
But speaking to French newspaper Le Croix, Mr Cazaneuve said it was unlikely this would come into place.
“The government… refuses to legislate on the matter because any such law would be unconstitutional, ineffective and likely to create antagonism and irreparable tension,” he said.
”We do not need a new law. Current laws clearly lay out France's secularism.“
”However, Muslims must continue to engage with us over gender equality, the inviolable nature of the principles of the French Republic, and tolerance in order to live together“. By overthrowing the decision of the mayor, the court has ”stated the law“, he added.
On Monday, Mr Cazeneuve is due to have “a day of consultations” with religious figures and parliamentarians regarding Islam in France.
He also criticised the opposition party for using the issue for political gain and stoking tensions during a time of religious unrest.
“Certain opposition leaders are making a lot of noise. They think that in the current context of terror threats, we can abandon the fundamental principles of law as embodied in the Constitution,” he said, warning that such a move would be “a serious mistake”.
The debate follows footage released of armed police attempting to force a woman to remove her burkini top on a beach in Nice last week.
A tribunal in the city previously ruled a burkini ban in the Villeneuve-Loubet resort was “necessary, appropriate and proportionate” to prevent public disorder.
The controversy around modest swimwear has filtered into new campaigns for the next presidential election and is the subject of highly charged debate.
”France needs healing and people coming together, not divisive outbursts by those contesting in primaries,“ Cazeneuve said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments