Burkini is a swimsuit that allows Muslim women to comply with religious requirements
As reported by BBC, in May Grenoble allowed wearing any swimwear in pools, including burkinis, which led to a legal battle with the government. The dispute reached the Council of State of France (the highest administrative court where decisions of executive authorities can be challenged) after a local court in Grenoble suspended the ban on the grounds that it seriously undermined the principle of impartiality in the provision of public services.
As a result, the Council of State upheld the ban on wearing burkini swimsuits in public pools, rejecting the appeal of the city of Grenoble. In its ruling, the court stated that it cannot allow selective exceptions to the rules to satisfy religious needs. France's Interior Minister also expressed his opinion, calling the policy of pandering to religious interests "an unacceptable provocation that contradicts France's secular values."
France has strict laws regarding what swimwear can be worn in public places. In addition, issues related to religious expression cause great divisions in society.
The ban on burkinis in public pools is also justified by hygiene considerations. For example, men in French pools must wear tight-fitting swim trunks – another rule that Grenoble unsuccessfully tried to overturn by allowing swimming in long shorts.
The French campaign against the burkini began back in 2016, when several local municipalities tried to ban this garment on beaches – arguing that it violates France's laws as a secular state. Civil servants have long been prohibited from wearing religious symbols at work, but Grenoble Mayor Eric Piolle argued that this should not prevent users of public services (for example, in pools) from dressing as they wish. His administration's actions to relax swimwear rules met resistance from the national government, which cited a law passed last year to combat Islamist separatism.
Critics of the burkini see it as a sign of a desire to create closed religious enclaves within French society and argue that if this attire is allowed, the environment in which Muslim women live will force them to wear it, even if they themselves have no objection to regular swimsuits. Far-right French leader Marine Le Pen called the burkini "an outfit of Islamist propaganda."
However, those who advocate for allowing the burkini say that women should have the choice to cover their bodies if they wish, and that this has nothing to do with religious extremism.
What is a burkini?
A burkini is a swimsuit that covers the entire body except the face, hands, and feet. The name is a combination of the words "burqa" and "bikini." Unlike the burqa, the burkini leaves the face uncovered. Burkini is worn by Muslim women to swim in public places while adhering to strict religious norms of modesty.