Muslim Frenchwoman Fined For Wearing Religious Clothing On Cannes Beach

Terrorist attacks in France have left the country feeling vulnerable, which is why many are trying to put barriers that could minimize the sparks of outrage that could come from the majority of the population.

Liberty, Equality, Hypocrisy.

What does all the supposedly "progressive" culture and civilization of France... https://t.co/HR70SMglrR

— SUMSA (@SUMSAsydney) August 25, 2016

With this in mind, Cannes mayor David Lisnard banned full-body swimsuits known as "burkinis" from the beach, saying that they were as "symbol of Islamic extremism" and may spark rage, as France had been targeted several times of Islamist attacks.

Unfortunately, this ruling caused a Muslim Frenchwoman to be fined on the beach for wearing her hijab. BBC pointed out that the woman was not wearing a burkini, but a tunic and leggings, with her hijab covering only her hair. The woman, identified only as Siam, said that she did not intend to bathe - she just wanted to dip her feet in the water.

Siam recalled that she was approached by police officers who told her she had to wear a proper attire at the beach, suggesting that she could remain if she rearranged her scarf as a headband instead. She refused to do so and was fined €11 (about 12.45), which reports suggest that she would contest. While the whole incident was ongoing, a crowd was also said to have gathered near her and the police, some of them shouting "Go home!"

In a report by the Daily Mail, Siam was quoted to have said, "'Today we are not allowed on the beach. Tomorrow, the street? Tomorrow, we'll be forbidden from practicing our religion at all?"

Not everyone agreed with the clothing ban, though. A wealthy Frenchman, Rachid Nekkaz, who was born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges from American immigrants said that he will pay any fine incurred by these women for wearing their outfit of choice. He shared with CNN, "I decided to pay for all the fines of women who wear the burkini in order to guarantee their freedom of wearing these clothes, and most of all, to neutralize the application on the ground of this oppressive and unfair law."