Two municipalities in southern Corsica ban burkinis on the beach, they will have to backtrack

Two mayors have banned this garment from their beaches, which covers arms, legs and hair and which remains legal in France, even if it derives from a rigorous practice of Islam.

Ordinances contrary to jurisprudence

The prefecture of the Corsica region admits to having been taken by surprise by these decrees: “No recent event justifies them, Let’s explain. Since these decrees are not based on the presence of disturbances of public order and are contrary to the jurisprudence of the Council of State of 2016, we have asked for their withdrawal or a rewriting of the decrees. »

The mayor of Zonza finally backtracks. Questioned by Le Monde, he said that he had revoked his arrest “hoping that it would not cause problems”. The mayor of Lecci justified this to CNews “serious conflicts” caused by “ostentatious religious clothing” evoking “a particular context that justifies the maintenance of the state of emergency”.

Risk of public disorder?

And he adds: “Beachwear that demonstrates religious affiliation, while in France and places of religious worship could be the target of terrorist acts, it is likely to create risks of disturbance of public order (crowding, scuffles) that must be prevented,” he said.

The municipalities of Lecci and Zonza are located at the entrance to the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio and have 2,000 and 2,800 inhabitants respectively in winter, but many more in summer.

The beaches of Saint-Cyprien and La Pinède are particularly popular with summer visitors.