Dthat french city Grenoble Muslim full-body swimsuits, known as burkini, were allowed in public pools on Monday. After three and a half hours of contentious debate, a small majority of city councilors voted for a corresponding change to the swimming pool rules. The city’s green mayor, Eric Piol, started a nationwide burkini debate with the plans. Critics speak of a creeping Islamization, while Payol seeks to give women the option to wear as much or as little as they want in the water. Going topless is also allowed in the future.

Prefect Laurent Prévost had already announced legal action on Sunday evening if the burkini were to go ahead at the public baths in Grenoble. As per the instructions received from the Interior Minister Gerald Darminin Upon receipt, he will go to the Administrative Court to suspend the regulation.

2016 Burkini ban declared illegal

There was already a heated argument about the burkini in France in the summer of 2016, and there were also local restrictions. In the end, the Council of State declared the municipal burkini ban enacted on the Cte ​​d’Azur illegal. Municipalities then used hygiene and safety justifications to ban burkini from beaches and bathhouses.

France sees itself as a secular country with a strict separation of state and religion. The handling of religious symbols in public has repeatedly caused controversy, especially in relation to Islam.