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French court suspends 'burkini' ban France burkini highest court suspends ban
(35 minutes later)
France's highest administrative court has suspended a ban on full-body "burkini" swimsuits that was imposed in the town of Villeneuve-Loubet. France's highest administrative court has suspended a ban on full-body "burkini" swimsuits that was imposed in a town on the Mediterranean coast.
It said the ban "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms to come and go, freedom of beliefs and individual freedom". The ban in Villeneuve-Loubet "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms to come and go, freedom of beliefs and individual freedom", it found.
The ruling could set a precedent for up to 30 other towns that have imposed the ban. The ruling could set a precedent for up to 30 other towns that imposed bans.
The court will make a final decision on the legality of the bans later.The court will make a final decision on the legality of the bans later.
A lawyer outside court said that people who had been fined could claim their money back. Correspondents in France say the court's decision means that all the bans on burkinis are likely now to be overturned but one mayor in Corsica has already vowed to keep the ban in place on his town beach.
A human rights group and an anti-Islamophobia organisation brought the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet to the court's attention. A human rights group, the Human Rights League (LDH), and an anti-Islamophobia association (CCIF), brought the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet to the court's attention.
The so-called burkini ban has ignited fierce debate in France and worldwide. Patrice Spinosi, a lawyer for the LDH, said outside court that people who had been fined could claim their money back.
'Public humiliation'
Amnesty International welcomed the court's decision. The human rights group's Europe director, John Dalhuisen, said it had "drawn a line in the sand".
He said: "French authorities must now drop the pretence that these measures do anything to protect the rights of women.
"These bans do nothing to increase public safety but do a lot to promote public humiliation."
The burkini bans have ignited fierce debate in France and worldwide.
Opinions polls suggested most French people backed the bans, which town mayors said were protecting public order and secularism.Opinions polls suggested most French people backed the bans, which town mayors said were protecting public order and secularism.
Muslims said they were being targeted unfairly.Muslims said they were being targeted unfairly.
The court said local authorities did not have the power to restrict individual liberties in this way without "proven risk" to public order.