PARIS, 20 May. - (ANA) - On Monday, the Alpine city of Grenoble changed its swimming pool rules to allow all types of bathing suits, not just traditional swimming costumes for women and trunks for men, which were mandated before, writes i24 News. 

 

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called the change an "unacceptable provocation" that was "contrary to our values," adding that he had asked for a legal challenge to the new regulations. 

 

Under a new law to counter "Islamist separatism" passed by parliament last year, the government can challenge decisions it suspects of undermining France's strict secular traditions meant to separate religions from the state. 

 

Attempts by several local mayors in the south of France to ban the burkini on Mediterranean beaches in the summer of 2016 kicked off the first firestorm around the bathing suit. 

 

The restrictions were eventually overturned for being discriminatory. Grenoble's mayor Eric Piolle, one of the country's highest-profile Green politicians who leads a broad left-wing coalition locally, has championed the city's move as a victory. "All we want is for women and men to be able to dress how they want," Piolle told broadcaster RMC on Monday.

 

 "I want Muslim women to be able to practice their religion, or change it, or not believe, and I would like them to be able to go swimming," he added. "I want them also to suffer less demands to dress in one way or another."   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/20 May 2022 — - -