Sep. 25, 2016 Vol. 234 by Jason Grenier, special correspondent
A Clash of Competing Ideologies: France’s Burkini Controversy France is one of many European countries with a growing Muslim population, many of whom are newly arrived immigrants from Africa and the Middle East. How these newcomers integrate into French society, or seen another way, how some of them refuse to integrate, is a source of ongoing tension in France. Traditionally-minded French people feel that immigrants should adapt to the culture of their adopted homeland. This means conforming not only to France’s laws, but also to French norms and social conventions. Some Muslim immigrants, however, are reluctant to embrace the traditions and behaviors of a culture they see as overly permissive and lacking in morals. They believe doing so would compromise their own religious and cultural beliefs. Among these beliefs is a requirement for Muslim women to dress modestly in public. To comply, some opt for simple headscarves, while others cover their entire bodies with long garments known as Burqas. This distinctive clothing makes them stand out from non-Muslims. A clash has erupted between these competing ideologies in the Mediterranean coastal city of Nice. At issue is what constitutes appropriate swimwear for women. French women often wear bikinis, and some even choose to swim and sunbathe topless. This reflects the majority French view that it is acceptable for women to bare their breasts while frolicking at the seaside. Conservative Muslims find this practice deeply offensive, however. To conform to their religious beliefs, some Muslim women have taken to wearing bathing suits that cover them from head to toe, popularly known as burkinis. Dismayed by this new development, the local government in Nice enacted a law banning the wearing of burkinis. The rationale behind the law is that such an obvious display of religiosity might be seen as symbolic of Islamic extremism. While this may seem overly reactionary, it must be remembered that a number of terrorist attacks have been committed on French soil by Islamic extremists in recent years. Besides the Paris 1