Corsica becomes third French town to ban burkinis

A mayor on the French island of Corsica on Monday became the third nation-wide to announce a ban on burqinis, after the full-body Islamic swimsuit allegedly sparked violent clashes. The Riviera resorts of Cannes and Villeneuve-Loubet have also banned the garment from their beaches in recent weeks, at a highly sensitive time for relations with France’s Muslim community following a series of jihadist attacks. The new ban in the Corsican village of Sisco comes after a massive brawl on Saturday between locals and families of North African origin.

It is not entirely clear how the fight broke out, but one witness said it happened after tourists took pictures of women swimming in burqinis on the Mediterranean island.

Five people were injured and three cars were burned as the rival sides hurled stones and bottles.

A hundred police officers were mobilised to break up the fight. Prosecutors in nearby Bastia said an inquiry had been opened to determine how the clashes broke out. Sisco mayor Pierre-Ange Vivoni said burqinis would be banned in the area from Tuesday.

The burqini issue has sparked huge controversy in France, with opponents saying the garment goes against French secular principles, but anti-racism campaigners saying that banning women from wearing it amounts to discrimination. Islamic dress has long been a hot-button issue in France, where the full-face veil is banned in public places.

The row comes as tensions run high following several attacks in France claimed by the Islamic State group, including July’s Nice massacre when a Tunisian ploughed a truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day, killing 85 people.

In Corsica, there were tense scenes Sunday as around 500 people gathered in the town of Bastia, seeking to enter the Lupino district which is home to a large North African community.