French Resort Town Nice Bans Covered Swimwear

French city Nice too now bans body-covering burkini swimsuit arguing such swimwear oppresses women as well as violates the country’s secular principles.

However, opponents point out the ban is discriminatory and will be alienating the Muslim community of France.

Nice is a resort town in France and last month it was shaken by deadly extremist attack when a man killed 86 people by driving a truck into crowds watching fireworks on July 14. The 86th injured victim was announced dead on Friday in hospital, after more than a month of the attack.

About 30 percent of the victims of last month’s terror attack were of large Muslim community.

The ban order was issued on Thursday by the Nice administration citing security concerns. The burkinis was also banned in other cities of France earlier. The Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts banned this summer.

Last month an ordinance was issued by Cannes Mayor David Lisnard forbidding such beachwear that does no respect “good morals and secularism.”

The ordinance reads, “(swimwear) manifesting religious affiliation in an ostentatious way, while France and its religious sites are currently the target of terrorist attacks, could create risks of trouble to public order.”

The French law also has banned long before face-covering veils in public. Headscarves too are not allowed to be worn by students in public schools.

Critics argue the bans are targeting religious divide in the country.