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France 'burkini': Mayors urged to heed court's ruling France burkini: Mayors urged to heed court's ruling
(about 11 hours later)
Mayors of French towns who banned the controversial "burkini" swimsuit have been warned they must heed a court ruling suspending the action. About 30 French mayors have been urged to follow a court ruling which overturned a controversial burkini ban in a resort town.
Human rights lawyer Patrice Spinosi said if any mayors did not comply, he would take each case to court. France's top administrative court suspended the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet on Friday on civil liberties grounds.
At least three mayors have said they will keep the bans on their beaches. However, a number of mayors have said they will continue applying the bathing suit ban.
On Friday the Council of State found the ban in one town, Villeneuve-Loubet, "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms". The human rights lawyer who brought Friday's case has said he will take each town to court.
The decision is expected to set a precedent for all the 30 or so French resorts, chiefly along the Riviera, that issued similar bans. The ruling by the Council of State found that the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet "seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms".
Villeneuve-Loubet's mayor, Lionnel Luca, responding to the ruling, said: "We need to decide if we want a smiley, friendly version of sharia law on our beaches or if we want the rules of the [French] Republic to be implemented." Town hall authorities in Nice and Frejus, as well as in the Corsican village of Sisco, have vowed to keep the bans in place.
The burkinis were not mentioned by name in the bans, with the order simply saying beachwear must be respectful of good public manners and the principle of secularism. Responding to the ruling, Villeneuve-Loubet's mayor, Lionnel Luca, said: "We need to decide if we want a smiley, friendly version of sharia law on our beaches or if we want the rules of the [French] Republic to be implemented."
Authorities said they were concerned about the public order implications of the religious clothing, especially after attacks in Nice and Paris carried out by people influenced by Islamist extremism. French PM Manual Valls wrote on Facebook in support of the bans, saying burkinis were "the affirmation of political Islam in the public space".
A lawyer for the Council of State, Francois Molinie, told Le Monde newspaper that mayors of towns still imposing the ban could continue in the short term.
However, he said that they might then face legal action in administrative tribunals which would base their rulings on that of the higher court.
Burkinis were not mentioned by name in the bans, with the order simply saying beachwear must be respectful of good public manners and the principle of secularism.
Authorities had said that they were concerned about the public order implications of the religious clothing, especially after attacks in Nice and Paris carried out by people influenced by Islamist extremism.
But while opinion polls suggested most French people backed the bans, they ignited fierce debate in France and around the world, with Muslims saying they were being unfairly targeted.But while opinion polls suggested most French people backed the bans, they ignited fierce debate in France and around the world, with Muslims saying they were being unfairly targeted.
The controversy deepened when images circulated showing police on a beach appearing to enforce the ban, and a woman removing an item of clothing.The controversy deepened when images circulated showing police on a beach appearing to enforce the ban, and a woman removing an item of clothing.
The council of state will make a final decision on the ban's legality at a later date.The council of state will make a final decision on the ban's legality at a later date.
'Still valid''Still valid'
Mr Spinosi represents the Human Rights League (LDH) which, along with the anti-Islamophobia association (CCIF), took Villeneuve-Loubet to the highest administrative court in the land. The lawyer behind the Villeneuve-Loubet case, Patrice Spinosi, represents the Human Rights League (LDH).
"It is a decision that is meant to set legal precedent," Mr Spinosi said to reporters outside court. He said people who had been fined could claim their money back. He brought the case against the town along with the anti-Islamophobia association (CCIF).
CCIF head Marwan Muhammad praised the ruling but said it "cannot take back the harm which was caused", Speaking outside the court, he said the decision "is meant to set legal precedent", and that people who had been fined could claim their money back.
However, town hall authorities in Nice and Frejus, as well as in the Corsican village of Sisco, have vowed to keep the bans in place. CCIF head Marwan Muhammad praised the ruling but said it "cannot take back the harm which was caused".
The far-right mayor of Frejus, David Rachline, told the AFP news agency that his ban was "still valid" and there was "no legal procedure" against it.
A spokesperson for Nice town hall said it would "continue to fine" women wearing full Islamic coverings on the beach.
In the town of Sisco in Corsica, mayor Ange-Pierre Vivoni said the ban would remain "for the safety of property and people in the town".
Mr Sisco said it followed clashes this month between villagers and Muslim bathers.
French PM Manual Valls wrote on Facebook in support of the bans, saying burkinis were "the affirmation of political Islam in the public space".
What is a burkini?What is a burkini?
Why have the bans been imposed?Why have the bans been imposed?
After a militant Islamist ploughed a lorry into families on the seafront at Nice on 14 July, killing 86 people, the city's authorities said a ban was "a necessity".After a militant Islamist ploughed a lorry into families on the seafront at Nice on 14 July, killing 86 people, the city's authorities said a ban was "a necessity".
Local leaders have described their actions as appropriate and proportionate.Local leaders have described their actions as appropriate and proportionate.
But the bans are not just a response to a spate of deadly jihadist attacks on French soil. France has long-standing laws on secularism, and the Nice ban focused on "correct dress, respectful of accepted customs and secularism, as well as rules of hygiene and of safety in public bathing areas". But the bans are not just a response to a spate of deadly jihadist attacks on French soil.
France has long-standing laws on secularism, and the Nice ban focused on "correct dress, respectful of accepted customs and secularism, as well as rules of hygiene and of safety in public bathing areas".
What French law says on secularism and religious clothingWhat French law says on secularism and religious clothing