MOSCOW (Sputnik) — His statement comes as the Highest Administrative Court of France is expected to make a ruling on the matter following a request by the French Human Rights League to cancel the burkini bans on August 26.
"With the rise of populism, the issue at stake is living together. It involves rules and enforcement of those rules. Let there be no provocation or stigmatization," Hollande was quoted as saying on the Elysee Palace’s Twitter page.
Earlier this summer, burkinis were banned from municipal beaches in 15 French towns, including Nice that suffered from a deadly terrorist attack in July, which was reportedly carried out by a radicalized Muslim. The ban was criticized by some rights groups.
The burkini is a type of swimsuit that covers the whole body except the face.