French mayors warned to heed Burkini ban suspension

Several French mayors who banned the 'burkini' on their beaches have been told that they must heed a court ruling suspending the bans.

Human rights lawyer Patrice Spinosi said that if any mayors refused to comply, he would take each case to court.

So far, at least three mayors have said they will retain the bans on their beaches, despite a court ruling saying the ban "seriously, and clearly illegally, breached the fundamental freedoms to come and go, the freedom of beliefs and individual freedom".

Lionnel Luca, the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet - the first town to enact the ban - said: "We need to decide if we want a smiley, friendly version of sharia law on our beaches or if we want the rules of the [French] Republic to be implemented."

The mayor of Frejus, David Rachline, told AFP that his ban was "still valid" and there was "no legal procedure" against it.

In Nice, a spokesman for the town hall said it would "continue to fine" women wearing full coverings on the beach, despite the ban.

In the town of Sisco, mayor Ange-Pierre Vivoni said the ban would remain "for the safety of property and people".

Mr Spinosi represents the Human Rights League (LDH) which, along with the anti-Islamophobia association (CCIF), took Villeneuve-Loubet to the highest court in the land.

"It is a decision that is meant to set legal precedent," Mr Spinosi said to reporters outside the court after the judgement.

He added that people who had been fined could claim their money back.