France

French High Court Rules Against Burkini Swimwear

JUN 22 2022·Updated DEC 15 2022

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Image credit: Reuters [via The Wall Street Journal]

The Facts

On Tues., France's highest administrative court struck down an ordinance passed by Grenoble city council that would've allowed women to wear head-to-foot swimsuits dubbed "burkinis" in public pools.
wsj
The court ruled the city's legislation, which allowed the swimsuit often worn by Muslim women, was initially aimed "only to satisfy a demand of a religious nature," which would violate France's strict laws regarding public sectarianism.
CNN
This is the first ruling to cite a law introduced under Macron's 2021 government which tightened rules of sectarianism in public matters.
Daily Caller
It deals another win for the conservative Republican party that recently won an unprecedented 89 seats in Parliament.
CBS News
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who challenged the city ordinance in court, said on Twitter that the decision is a "victory for secularism, and above all for the whole Republic."
wsj
However, activist groups including the UN Human Rights Committee have criticized measures restricting public displays of religious belief.
CNN

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The Spin

Progressive narrative

Grenoble's law was intended to offer more opportunities for citizens to access public swimming pools. Women, whether for religious reasons or not, should be able to exercise their right to choose, and be allowed to wear whatever they want in communal spaces. This only serves to make it even more difficult for Muslim women in France to use public services.

wsj

Conservative narrative

This ruling is a win for those who wish to uphold France's long-held view that public secularism should be applied equally to all people no matter their religion. It's also an important step in combating Islam's unfair treatment of women, a religious component incompatible with French society.