Armed police officers forced a woman at a Nice beach to remove some of her clothing as part of the French city’s controversial ban on the burkini.
Photos of the incident quickly did the rounds on social media, sparking outrage in many quarters and support in others.
Nice is one of 15 towns that have banned the burkini, a full-length swimsuit that covers the whole body except for the face, hands and feet. It’s favored by many Muslim women, but officials say the ban is a response to growing terror concerns.
The incident in Nice took place at the city’s Promenade des Anglais, site of last month’s Bastille Day truck attack.
The photos show officers, armed with guns and batons, standing around the woman, who was lying on the beach in a blue headscarf and a matching top.
After the woman takes off her full-sleeved tunic, an officer is seen crouching beside her writing what appears to be a note or fine.
Nice authorities say the police officers were simply exercising their duties. Christian Estrosi, deputy major of Nice, denounced the photos saying they put the officers in danger.
“I condemn these unacceptable provocations,” he said.
Calls for national clarification
A leading French Muslim body requested an urgent meeting with the government to discuss the ban following the publication of the photos.
The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) tweeted: “Muslim women stigmatized, fine in Cannes and woman forced to withdraw her tunic in Nice: CFCM requests a meeting with (French Interior Minister) Bernard Cazeneuve.”
Stigmatisation de Musulmanes avec verbalisation à Cannes et obligation d'une femme à ôter sa Tunique à Nice : Dde #CFCM audience @BCazeneuve
— CFCM (@CfcmOfficiel) August 24, 2016
Meanwhile, some in the French Muslim community are fighting back with their checkbook.
One local organization is helping Muslim women who were fined on French beaches. Marwan Muhammad, president of the Collective Against Islamophobia in France, told CNN that out of the 15 women they are helping, none were wearing burkinis — only headscarves.
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