French court suspends burkini ban on riviera beaches

The Administrative Court of Nice has suspended a decree by the mayor of Mandelieu-La Napoule banning the wearing of burkinis on the town’s beaches, Le Figaro reports.

The legal challenge was brought by the Human Rights League after the municipality imposed the restriction, which had been scheduled to remain in force until August 31.

The court ruled that prohibiting swimwear that indicates religious affiliation was not justified. The judge found that the measure was neither necessary nor proportionate and rejected arguments that the ban was required to prevent potential disturbances to public order, describing them as unsubstantiated.

The ruling stressed that the restriction infringed three fundamental freedoms: freedom of movement, freedom of conscience and personal liberty.

Mandelieu-La Napoule became the first French town to introduce a ban of this kind in 2012, making the issue a recurring source of debate over secularism, public order and individual rights in France.

Mayor Sébastien Leroy sharply criticized the court’s decision, accusing it of a “misunderstanding of reality” and of failing to appreciate the challenges faced by local authorities.

By Vafa Guliyeva