UN human rights body urges French towns to lift burkini bans

Welcoming the French highest administrative court's ruling to suspend the burkini ban in Villeneuve-Loubet, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called on all remaining towns to repeal the ban affecting Muslim women who wear full-body covering swimwear.

"According to international human rights standards, limitations on manifestations of religion or belief, including choice of clothing, are only permitted in very limited circumstances, including public safety, public order, and public health or morals," the human rights body said in a statement.

OHCHR reported that some 30 French beach resorts and towns instigated the ban on forms of dress worn by Muslim women at the beach in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack which struck the coastal town of Nice last month.

"We fully understand, and share, the grief and anger generated by the terrorist attacks carried out in France in recent months, including the atrocious July 14 attack in Nice," OHCHR said.

"However, these decrees do not improve the security situation but rather fuel religious intolerance and the stigmatization of Muslims in France, especially women," it added.

OHCHR also warned that banning such beachwear was not justified on the grounds of hygiene or public health concerns. Endit