The “burkini” – a swimsuit designed to cover the whole body except the face, hands and feet – is intended to comply with Islamic traditions of modest dress. Rather than simply passing up opportunities to go to areas that invite skimpier beachwear, Islamic women now have the freedom to enjoy themselves in areas where they may have previously felt uncomfortable, thanks to this new fashion piece. The question thus arises: why have more than thirty French municipalities banned such an extremely accommodating and seemingly innocent clothing accessory?
Supposedly, the outlaw of the burkini is a direct response to heightened concerns after numerous terror attacks on France. In July alone, at least eighty-four people were killed after a large motor vehicle plowed through a crowd in Nice; another incident arose in Rouen when a priest was killed in an attack by two armed men. With rising societal tensions, police officers in France have been patrolling public spaces in order to monitor Islamic women’s apparel with the goal of increasing public safety. Popular opinion within the nation is divided amongst those who see the new bans as an encumbrance to religious freedom, and those who view the Islamic dress in contrast to France’s actively enforced secularism.
Recently, several images and video clips have surfaced which broadcast the armed patrolling officers who have forced Muslim women that are in violation of religious apparel bans to take off the outlawed clothing. Critics of the ban are enraged by such images in the media. They argue that the new laws do not increase public safety, but rather promote public humiliation and degradation. They argue that these practices are not only discriminatory, but also lead to the future abuse toward and intolerance of Muslim women. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the public power display of armed police officers calls greater attention to Islamic tradition as a culture to fear, rather than helping to dismantle those specific concerns.
It is important to note that Muslim women will not simply conform to modern swim attire now that the burkini has been banned in countless French towns. These women will most likely not swim at all where the burkini is banned, isolating them from society and creating a greater divide between common culture and women who participate in the Islamic tradition of modest dress. Ultimately, the severance serves to further impede upon the religious freedom of Muslim women and heighten the very fears which the French government sought to lessen.