France's Absurd Burkini Ban


Human Rights WatchTHE WEEK IN RIGHTS
August 25, 2016
Donate Today
Follow us on:
 
France’s Absurd Burkini Ban


Photo © 2016 Reuters

A woman is confronted by state officials in a public place and forced to change her clothing, while another is fined for failing to wear “an outfit respecting good morals and secularism." Unbelievable in a country like France? No, it happened on French Riviera beaches just this week.


These incidents follow a series of municipal decrees de facto banning burkinis, clothing designed to allow Muslim women to go to go to the beach and swim, and other skin-concealing outfits, in about 30 French towns. 

The bans were adopted in the aftermath recent horrific terror attacks in France. But what in fact these bans serve to do is create a dangerous and absurd confusion between how some Muslim women choose to dress and the despicable terrorist attacks that French people, of all religions, have suffered.

But the burkini bans are more than just unfair and discriminatory; inflaming tensions between communities is also dangerous. Besides, during a time of national emergency, surely French police have better things to do than humiliate women on the country’s beaches.
Read more »
share on: Facebook Twitter
Asia
Mozambique Opposition Group Raids Hospitals

"I was in the emergency room when they fired gunshots through the windows. We were hiding beneath chairs, beds…anything we could find..." 

Read more »
 
share on: Facebook Twitter
Asia
Curtailing ‘Depravity’ in Dagestan With Female Genial Mutilation?

Sexually depraved behavior among girls is rampant, if you listen to a Muslim authority of Russia’s North Caucasus. The good news is that, according to him, there is a simple fix... 

Read more >>
 
share on: Facebook Twitter
Asia
Philippine Police Killing Spree Demands Accountability

Police statistics show that from July 1 to August 19, 2016, police have killed an estimated 712 suspected “drug pushers and users...” 

Read more »
 
share on: Facebook Twitter
VIDEOVideo 
 
Stop UK Weapon Use in Yemen Atrocities
Watch Now »
TAKE ACTION  
 
#HaltArms: Help Us Stop Weapons to South Sudan
Click Here »
WE'RE ON SNAPCHAT
Follow us: therealhrw