French court overturns ban on burkinis in Villeneuve-Loubet

• The State Council, the highest administrative court in the country, ruled the ban on the religiously inspired bathing suit constituted a violation of civil liberties, including freedom of movement and religious freedom.
• The decision opens the door to challenges to similar bans in at least 30 other municipalities.
• The bans have roiled political tensions in the aftermath of IS-coordinated and -inspired attacks in the country, with government officials and civil liberties advocates clashing over the limits of the national security apparatus.

Read more:
“Court Overturns ‘Burkini’ Ban in French Town” (The New York Times)
“Le Conseil d’Etat met un terme aux arrêtés « anti-burkini »” (Le Monde, in French)
“Burkini ban suspended by top French court” (euronews)

(Image Credit: Hannah Mckay/European Pressphoto Agency, via The New York Times)