Only bikinis, no burqinis

Imagine paying a fortune for an expensive holiday at the French Riviera and seeing the beautiful French coastline resemble a beach in oppressive Iran.

The ban in Cannes of the full-body Muslim bathing suit (embarrassingly known as ‘burqini’) is “out of respect for good customs and secularism”, according to the mayor. Among other factors, it is also deemed unhygienic to be fully clothed and enter the water. Cannes’ head of municipal services additionally refers to the burqini having an allegiance to terrorist movements that are at war with France.

Not surprisingly, anti-racism organisations and human rights groups are up in arms against what they believe is a deeply worrying ban. They feel that the issue comes at a sensitive time for relations with Muslims in France after two recent attacks linked to the Islamic State. Some may argue that the move to ban the burqini smacks of political posturing, and is symbolically, one against the Muslims at large but is being garbed as a matter of hygiene, norm and safety.

France already has a countrywide burqa ban, which outlaws full-face veils in public. Several are of the view that these beach rules could worsen feelings of alienation and fuel extremist propaganda. After all, there is no evidence that women who wear burqinis are linked to terrorisim, and there is no reason why banning them would help to thwart France’s violent religious extremists. All reasonably fair perspectives on the one hand, yet I’m not sure I find the ban remotely discriminatory or racist. An unnecessary communal colour is being added to the otherwise anodyne issue.

Haven’t we all heard of the age-old adage, “When in Rome, do what the Romans do.” Much like any country, France has a right to choose Western values on its turf. Their nation, their rules.

Bikinis are not permitted on several beaches and hotel pools in the Middle East. If ‘liberal’ women visiting the Middle East cover up and are respectful of local norms, then those visiting France should abide by the rules of the latter, or otherwise, not visit France. Simple. Secularity cannot be an open field. Select a country where your feelings aren’t hurt.

Several private spas around the world prescribe a dress code. I remember a Jacuzzi and Sauna centre in my hotel in Seoul that required men to be in the buff. There are some that follow a ‘no shorts, only boxers’ policy, and then there are some that are approving of shorts. Just like they have a right to prescribe their rules, customers are free to exercise their choice to use the facility (or not.)

Those insisting that the burqini ban will increase the divide between France’s Muslims and non-Muslims, are effectively saying, “If you ban the burqini, angry jihadists will seek revenge.” Maybe. But the so-called jihadists are doing that regardless, burqini or no burqini.

My view may not be politically correct but I stand by it. Fearing carnage, it’s bad enough that France has had to cancel the annual Braderie de Lille — Europe’s biggest flea market. I don’t agree that countries should lose their sense of identity and compromise their values (right or wrong is subjective) merely to pander to the limitless secular agenda and allay terrorist backlash.

Tailpiece

Tony Blair was snapped bare-chested on the beach with a large crucifix around his neck. Is the crucifix to protect him from demonic spirits or from the furious families of the soldiers killed in Iraq, who are fighting to bring a court action against him?

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2016.

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