“By overturning a discriminatory ban that is fuelled by and is fuelling prejudice and intolerance, today’s decision has drawn an important line in the sand… French authorities must now drop the pretense that these measures do anything to protect the rights of women. Rather, invasive and discriminatory measures such as these restrict women’s choices," Amnesty International Europe Director John Dalhuisen said, as quoted in a statement by the organization.
The ban was an assault on the freedom of expression and religion, the statement added, emphasizing that the ban did not promote public safety as was claimed by local authorities.
Earlier this summer, burkinis were banned from municipal beaches in 15 French towns, including Nice that suffered from a terrorist attack in July that killed 84 people.
