David Lisnard, the Mayor of  Cannes, earlier this month banned burkinis with a ruling that stated: “Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to anyone who does not have [bathing apparel] which respects good customs and secularism.” Wait, there’s more. He continued, “Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order which it is necessary to prevent.”

Okay, let’s get into this. While this ban doesn’t particular state burkini’s are banned from the beaches, that has not stopped police and law enforcements from finning and or forcing women in burkini’s/headscarfs/other full body clothings to remove said coverings (such a degrading act). Law enforcement and police have taken this ban’s vague definition of “proper attire” at the beach to mean any full body coverings displaying  a “certain religions” (Islam/Muslim etc.) affiliation are not allowed mostly due to ignorance.

However, unbeknownst to the lawmaker, the wearing of a burqa/hijab is not mandated by religion. Any women who choose to wear such coverings on their body are doing so out of respect and exhibit modesty, freedom, and morals among other things. Whether a woman chooses to wear such garments is their prerogative. However, to date, three major towns in France: Cannes, Nice and Corsica have either upheld and/or established bans on burkinis and other full body swimwear at their beaches. On top of being ludicrous, ridiculous, and a total infringement one’s rights (mainly focused on women), this sadly is not the first time women had their lives regulated based on “fear.”

In fact in the 1920’s, special deputies called “Sheriffettes” were in charge of monitoring the swimwear of bathers at Rockaway Beach, Queens, and  New York. Any women not in compliance with “proper” attire was arrested; which included women being arrested for wearing swimsuits under a shirt and sweater and not having a suitable garment to cover themselves to at least their knees. One Twitter user states “Coercing a woman out of a burqa is as bad as coercing her into one” and I totally agree with the user that this ban is complete lunacy. This ban isn’t being used to denounce extremism, it being used as a discriminatory law against Muslim females. The burqa is already a dress code based on morals and modesty etc. so it would follow the burkini is the same thing. So, why enforce a “dress code ban” on them just because you have some weird aversion to them? The worst thing about this, is that the government/law enforcement is trying to justify it by saying said garments are potential riot inciters. The only thing inciting a riot here, is that the fact the French government/law enforcement can’t just let women wear whatever they feel like wearing to the beach!

This ban is entirely upsetting because women wearing full body coverings can’t enjoy themselves at the beach. It is also upsetting that the government and law enforcement is making a link between religions, apart from their own, as being terrorists and or radical. This isn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last time people in a position of power make that connection. How upsetting, for people who practice such religions who are getting their rights encroached upon based on some bad eggs making a muck of their religion? There is no reason why all those who practice such religions as Islam should have to state the negative extremists/radical actions of some don’t speak for their entire religion. It should be a known thing that said radical and organizations with an intent to do harm are not affiliated with their religion.