Greens slam 'Islamophobic' burkini ban

24 August 2016

After photos emerged showing police on a beach in Nice making a muslim woman remove some of her clothing, Green Party leader Natalie Bennet has criticised the ban on burkinis in place in several French towns and called on Theresa May to raise concerns over the issue with the French government.

Natalie said: 

“These photos are utterly shocking and the actions of the French authorities are a stain on their country's record.

“In no free society should women’s clothing choices be policed in this way, and the fact that in a liberal democracy like France, women are being told to remove their clothing in order to conform to the country’s “moral” standards is an outrage.

“I extend my full solidarity to the women affected by this Islamophobic ban and to women everywhere facing sexist and oppressive laws, and I ask Theresa May to raise concerns about the ban with the French government as a matter of urgency."

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