Top administrative court overrules burkini ban in French resort town
|File Photo


France's highest administrative court overruled Sunday a burkini ban imposed in a Mediterranean resort town as it clashes with fundamental rights and freedoms, freedom of faith and personal rights.

The ban was imposed by the municipality of Cagnes-sur-Mer in southern France starting from Aug. 24, which was later approved by Nice Administrative Court on Sept. 12. Both rulings were appealed at the Council of State by human rights and anti-Islamophobia associations.

The detailed ruling stated that a sign on several bathing clothes disrupting public order – as cited by the municipality as a ban justification – cannot be found and the municipality cannot impose such a ban in beaches without a specific risk.

This decision is the second time that the Council of State overruled a burkini ban in a month. The ban imposed by Villeneuve-Loubet municipality, which was also approved by Nice court, was also overruled by the top administrative court on Aug. 26.

The bans on full-body burkini swimsuits, which have been imposed by several French Riviera municipalities for the last two months, that has outraged Muslims and opened divisions within the government.