The government overpowers a decision made a month ago by the city council to allow the burkini. Swimsuits that cover the body – leaving only the face, arms and legs exposed – are often worn by Muslim women who want to maintain their modesty for religious reasons. But Grenoble’s move sparked criticism from conservative and far-right politicians who said it would undermine the principle of French secularism in public life. The government challenged the council’s decision and a lower administrative court suspended the measure. Grenoble then appealed to the country’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, which upheld the previous ruling. The Council of State said: “Grenoble’s new Rules of Procedure for Municipal Swimming Pools are affecting. The proper functioning of the public service and undermining the equal treatment of users, so that the neutrality of the public service is at stake.” Following the latest ruling, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Grenoble’s act had been “definitively annulled”. He described it as “a victory for … secularism and especially for Democracy”. Grenoble City Council said its main goal was to ensure equal treatment for all users. Image: Far-right party leader Marin Le Pen says she wants to pass law banning burqini in municipal swimming pools Dress rules in public swimming pools in France are strict for hygiene reasons, authorities say. You must wear caps and loose swimsuits are generally prohibited. No nationwide ban on burkini Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. There is currently no nationwide ban in France, but they are banned in many public swimming pools across the country. The leader of the far-right National Rally party, Marin Le Pen, who ran against Emanuel Macron in the April presidential election and did well in last Sunday’s parliamentary elections, said she wanted to pass a law banning burqins in municipal swimming pools. “Burkini ban discriminates against Muslim women” Muslim rights groups say the burqa ban restricts fundamental freedoms and discriminates against Muslim women. The United Nations has called on France to lift its ban on burkini, which began in 2016, with UNHCR spokesman Rupert Colville saying the ban “fuels religious intolerance and stigma”.
