FRENCH COURT SAYS BURKINIS HAVE NO PLACE IN GRENOBLE’S PUBLIC POOLS

Wed 22 June 2022:

Full-body swimwear, such as the Burkini, is not permitted in public pools in Grenoble, France’s top administrative court declared on Tuesday, upholding a previous court’s decision.

“The new rules of procedure for the municipal swimming pools of Grenoble affect (…) the proper functioning of the public service, and undermines the equal treatment of users, so that the neutrality public service is compromised,” the Conseil d’Etat said in a statement.

Body-covering swimwear – which leaves only the face, hands and feet exposed – is often worn by Muslim women who wish to preserve their modesty in accordance with their beliefs.

Grenoble’s city council had voted in favour of allowing the use of burkinis on May 16, sparking howls of protest from conservative and far-right politicians.

The city’s move was challenged by the government and a lower administrative court suspended the measure. Grenoble responded by taking its legal fight to the Conseil d’Etat.

After the Conseil d’Etat’s ruling, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Grenoble’s act had been “definitively overruled”.

“A victory for our “separatism” law, for secularism and above all for the Republic,” Darmanin said.

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