Burkini ban rejected by French high court

In what is seen as a glorious day for religious liberty, feminism, and individual freedoms, France's highest administrative court has said it is against the burkini ban instituted in the Villeneuve-Loubet. It is one of over 30 towns that have instituted decrees against the swimwear piece.

The argument made against the burkini says it is a protection of secularism and is necessary because France has been the victim of so many terrorist attacks recently.

Michael Tubiana, president of France's Human Rights League, has said that the decision could set a precedent to strike down bans in the other towns. Tubiana and his organization, along with an anti-Islamophobia association brought the case before the State Council, which makes the final decision on cases involving local authorities, executive power, and any agency invested with a public authority.

France's highest administrative court rejects burkini ban in Villeneuve-Loubet

“By overturning a discriminatory ban that is fueled by and is fueling prejudice and intolerance, today’s decision has drawn an important line in the sand,” said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty’s Europe director, in a statement. “French authorities must now drop the pretense that these measures do anything to protect the rights of women. Rather, invasive and discriminatory measures such as these restrict women’s choices and are an assault on their freedoms of expression, religion and right to non-discrimination."

He went on to discuss how these bans increase negative stereotypes of Muslim women and further Islamophobia.

Prime Minister Manuel Valles supports the burkini ban saying it symbolizes the enslavement of women according to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald. According to him, France is locked in a "battle of cultures."

This week, photos of Nice police asking a Muslim woman to undress herself because she was wearing a burkini went viral on social media, further increasing the issues global attention. The global battle around the issue is raging on as the issue is becoming a point of conflict in other EU countries.