The Burkini Ban in France: Controversy and Perspectives

The article discusses the controversy surrounding the Burkini Ban in France, which was imposed due to the belief that the burkini violated the country's secular dress code. The ban has elicited criticism from various world leaders, and many argue that it could lead to the radicalization of the Muslim community. The article also provides insights into different perspectives on the issue, including the use of the First Amendment in America to protect religious freedom. The section has the ability to change an individual's focus on the issue entirely once they learn how the punitive restrictions by the state can shift and alter the societal equilibrium.

Running head: THE BURKINI BAN IN FRANCE 1
The Burkini Ban in France
Name
Institution

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Burkini Ban in France
The article, “The French ban on burkinis at some public beaches" shows that as the
popularity of burkini swimwear started spreading and became popular among the Muslim
population in France, as it became a basis for the harsh controversy which started coming up.
The use of burkinis had previously been eliminated and restricted as the French argued the
burkini violated the country’s secular dress code and weakened the French customs and culture
against being radicalized (Abdelaal, 2016). Furthermore, as the ban took effect by the
intervention of the police and financial sanctions, the controversial issue had spread throughout
the world as various world leaders’ elicited criticism towards the law enacted.
Furthermore, many perceive that the restriction bears a negative impact on France, and
any other country that adopts the ban, as it segregates the Muslim community from the daily
activities of the society that could result to its members being radicalized and increased
involvement in radical events and groups like Al-Qaida. Other states persons submit their
proposals to have religion isolated entirely from the citizen's social life and restricting the use of
burkinis is an excellent way to counter the regressive activities. The heat from limiting burkini
use has escalated hate and attention toward Muslim people, especially the women.
The article, “The French ban on burkinis at some public beaches" by the Editorial Board
from USA Today, speaks about a situation towards Muslim women wearing “burkinis” on the
beach in France and the plan to ban them. The burkini is a swimsuit that covers up their legs,
arms, and hair. It helps them enjoy swimming by enabling the women to cover up and show
modesty. The French police are patrolling the beaches and telling the women to do away with
their burkinis, and if they don’t, they are asked to leave. These were banned in fifteen towns in
France, including Nice and Cannes. One of the top French courts recently overturned on

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prohibiting the burkinis. Besides, it is not the first time that France has tried to ban any Islamic
attire. They have also forbidden headscarves from public schools. Ever since Muslim immigrants
have arrived in France, they have a negative attitude towards them. France believes that religion
should be separated from the national identity altogether. No court should be this cruel towards
one and their faith or what morals they have.
One of the assumptions from the article is that here in America we make use of the First
Amendment to as a basis for actions against religion. It guarantees freedom about religion and
prevents the government from curtailing the rights of one speaking openly. Even if it prevents it
from intervening from people’s religion choice, it can still come back to be conflicting. The
Supreme Court in America is not fighting to have burkinis, hijabs, or burkas to be banned from
here. In addition, just as the article mentioned that America does emphasize the need for the
people who believe in various faiths to pretend to conform to rules they are not able to and still
be observant while being respectful to other religions. Nevertheless, that is not happening
towards the Muslim community. Even if it may have many contradictions, the United States’
way versus the French’s way of forcing secularism is apparently much more suitable. Individuals
have the right to practice what he or she believes in their own homes and any religious
organization.
Every day you hear something on the news about Islamophobia or something related to
that. It is becoming more violent here in the U.S., for example, this week a Muslim woman was
burned to death in New York City because she was wearing a burka, which is a veil that covers
everything including the face. There have also been incidents where people are fighting the
women and trying to remove their masks so their face can be shown. Apparently, our country has
seen and gone through terrorist attacks, but you don’t see our government trying to ban Muslims

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or Islamic faith like the French. Ever since their attacks, that’s one of the biggest and main
reasons why they are trying to go forward with these bans.
Being a Christian with the Catholic faith, the clothing issue appears concerning the
clothing that Nuns wear. It’s the same thing as they show what they believe in and still showing
modesty because of their faith. It is always covering their hair, arms, and legs. The only
difference is that they are not hiding their face. I hardly ever hear of nuns being discriminated or
disrespected because of how they dress. The same thing goes for the surfer suits and scuba diver
suits. These are almost identical to the burkini, and they don’t get a word said to them about it. If
that’s the situation, then we should ban all of the clothing that is similar to Muslim wear.
It is questionable as to when America started telling people what to wear or what to
believe in concerning religion. The citizens have the right to choose what we want to wear. If the
United States started finding women and telling them to take off their swimsuits, that would be
contradicting and them abusing the First Amendment and not only being prejudice towards the
Muslim women. The French should be happy and okay that there are people showing modesty by
covering up and not showing too much out in public since they care so much about how
revealing it can be. If France doesn’t accept people showing modesty and covering up, then they
should get rid of their nude beaches because they are hypocritical. A Muslim should be able to
wear what they want as well as a Christian or Catholic have the same right to wear what they
desire. Justice needs to be made from the French court, and hopefully, this never happens in
America (Berg & Lundahl, 2017).
The article makes one read about the various perspectives in the world concerning the
ban imposed on the use of burkins. The section has the ability to change an individual’s focus on

THE BURKINI BAN IN FRANCE 5
the issue entirely once they learn how the punitive restrictions by the state can shift and alter the
societal equilibrium.
Template for Drawing Conclusions: I Read/I Think/Therefore
I Read I Think
The article, “The French ban on burkinis at
some public beaches" by the Editorial Board
from USA Today, speaks about a situation
towards Muslim women wearing “burkinis”
on the beach in France and the plan to ban
them. The burkini is a swimsuit that covers up
their legs, arms, and hair. It helps them enjoy
swimming by enabling the women to cover up
and show modesty
The French police are patrolling the beaches
and telling the women to do away with their
burkinis, and if they don’t, they are asked to
leave. The burkinis were banned in fifteen
towns in France, including Nice and Cannes.
One of the top French courts recently
overturned on prohibiting the burkinis.
Besides, it is not the first time that France has
tried to ban any Islamic attire. They have also
forbidden headscarves from public schools.
Ever since Muslim immigrants have arrived
in France, they have a negative attitude
towards them. France believes that religion
should be separated from the national identity
altogether. (vox.com) No court should be this
cruel towards one and their faith or what
morals they have.

THE BURKINI BAN IN FRANCE 6
One of the assumptions from the
article is that here in America we make use of
the First Amendment to as a basis for actions
against religion. It guarantees freedom about
religion and prevents the government from
curtailing the rights of one speaking openly.
Even if it prevents it from intervening from
people’s religion choice, it can still come
back to be conflicting. The Supreme Court in
America is not fighting to have burkinis,
hijabs, or burkas to be banned from here. In
addition, just as the article mentioned that
America does emphasize the need for the
people who believe in various faiths to
pretend to conform to rules they are not able
to and still be observant while being
respectful to other religions. Nevertheless,
that is not happening towards the Muslim
community. Even if it may have many
contradictions, the United States’ way versus
the French’s way of forcing secularism is
apparently much more suitable. Individuals
have the right to practice what he or she

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believes in their own homes and any religious
organization.
Therefore…
The article makes one read about the various perspectives in the world concerning the ban
imposed on the use of burkins. The section has the ability to change an individual’s focus on
the issue entirely once they learn how the punitive restrictions by the state can shift and alter
the societal equilibrium.

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Reference
Abdelaal, M. (2016). Extreme Secularism vs. Religious Radicalism: The Case of the French
Burkini. ILSA J. Int'l & Comp. L., 23, 443.
Berg, L., & Lundahl, M. (2017). (Un-) veiling the west: Burkini-gate, Princess Hijab and
dressing as struggle for postsecular integration. Culture Unbound: Journal of Current
Cultural Research, 8(3), 263-283.