The mayor of a Corsican village has banned burkinis (burka-bikini hybrids designed for Muslim women) after a violent clash broke out on an island beach when locals began taking pictures of the full-body swimsuit’s wearers.
According to The Guardian, four people, one a pregnant woman, were injured during the brawl when those wearing the burkini objected to having their pictures taken.
Following the clash, Sisco Mayor Ange-Pierre Vivoni said he was implementing the ban in order to keep the town’s Muslim population safe.
“I want to protect the population, notably my area’s Muslim population because I think that they are the main victims of these extremist provocations,” said Vivoni.
Corsica is now the third French city to outlaw the burkini. Cannes, a resort town in France and home to the eponymous Film Festival, was the first to implement the ban.
David Lisnard, mayor of the French Riviera town, enacted the law in order to limit “beachwear ostentatiously showing a religious affiliation while France and places of religious significance are the target of terror attacks,” according to the Independent.
Lisnard said the decree is intended to secularize his city’s beaches.
“Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to anyone who does not have (swim wear) which respects good customs and secularism,” the ruling reads.
Villeneuve-Loubet, another French resort city, followed suit in prohibiting the burkini — except this time, the mayor citied sanitary as well as religious reasons.
“I considered that unacceptable for hygienic reasons and that in general it was unwelcome,” Lionnel Luca said, after finding out that a woman was swimming in the beach fully clothed.
He also added that the beach was not the place to flaunt your religious beliefs.
“In France, one does not come to the beach dressed to display one’s religious convictions, especially as they are false convictions that the religion does not demand,” said Luca, to RTL, a French publication.
Tensions between the North African community and locals have been running high since the Nice attacks of July 14, when Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel deliberately plowed his truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day, killing more than 80 people.
Banning religiously affiliated clothing isn’t unusual for France. The country also placed a nationwide ban on burqas, which prevented women from fully veiling their face in public.
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Friday, May 26 marked the start of Ramadan, a month of fasting in the Islamic religion to mark the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Here are 15 celebrities you might not have known were Muslim.
Zayn Malik The former One Direction singer hasn't been too vocal about his religion. He garnered a worldwide trending topic #respectforZayn when Bill Maher compared him to the Boston Marathon bomber.
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Ice Cube The former N.W.A rapper has said, "What I call myself is a natural Muslim, because it’s just me and God. You know, going to the mosque, the ritual and the tradition, it’s just not in me to do. So I don’t do it."
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Ellen Burstyn Burstyn was raised Catholic and then began her journey to Islam by practicing Sufi Islam. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore."
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Mehmet Oz Better known as Dr. Oz, the TV personality hosts a talk show that discusses popular health concerns. Oz was named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in 2009 by The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, a leading Muslim group.
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Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid The Somali supermodel (and widow of the late David Bowie) most commonly known as Iman is Muslim. Her name means "faith" in Arabic. She's said she considers herself Muslim even though she doesn't practice.
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DJ Khaled In an interview with Larry King, Khaled described himself as a Muslim and then said "I practice it, but I could do a better job.”
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Aasif Mandvi The actor-comedian, best known as a former correspondent on "The Daily Show," has openly criticized the fact that he has to spend so much time defending his religion instead of engaging in open dialogue about it: "I have a complicated relationship with my own faith."
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Lupe Fiasco The Chicago native isn't one to be quiet about his beliefs, but the fact that he's Muslim is something many might not be aware of. In an interview with Katie Couric in 2014, he addressed the struggles of being Muslim while in the entertainment industry.
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Mike Tyson Muhammad Ali wasn't the only boxer who is Muslim. In an interview with Fox News, Tyson says "I'm very grateful to be a Muslim." He has also said "Praise be to Allah," in an interview following a fight.
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Dave Chappelle One of the most well-known comedians, Chappelle told Time Magazine in 2005, "I don't normally talk about my religion publicly because I don't want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing. And I believe it is a beautiful religion if you learn it the right way."
Fareed Zakaria The host of CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" says he is neither a practicing Muslim nor is he very religious, but he self-identifies as Muslim nonetheless.
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Zinedane Zidane The legendary soccer star most known for exiting his career with an infamous headbutt heard around the world, is Muslim.
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Busta Rhymes The Grammy-nominated artist is probably best known for rapping a mile a minute on some tracks. He has stated "I live my life by Islam and at the end of the day I think that's pretty much what grounds me."
Cat Stevens Better known now as Yusuf Islam, converted to Islam in the 1970s. Islam went on a pretty long musical hiatus after his conversion.
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Omar Sy The French actor, best known for his role as Bishop in "X-Men: Days of Future Past," is Muslim. He was also listed in the World's 500 Most Influential Muslims publication in 2016.
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A pop star, an Oscar winner and several rappers all identify with the religion
Friday, May 26 marked the start of Ramadan, a month of fasting in the Islamic religion to mark the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Here are 15 celebrities you might not have known were Muslim.