A Nice court on Saturday upheld a ban on full-body swimsuits, known as burkinis, in the southern French city of Cannes. The city’s mayor imposed the ban [BBC report] last month after authorities and surrounding residents criticized the full body swimsuits for being a symbol of “radical Islamism.” Those found wearing burkinis could be fined €38 and would be required to either change their outfit or leave the beach. The court found the ban [BBC report] to be in line with French law that allows for prohibitions against actions that disregard public relations policies concerning religion. The Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) [official website, in French] has denounced the court’s decision, stating that such a ban may allow prohibitions against all publicly displayed religious symbols. The CCIF’s next move will be to appeal the decision to France’s highest court.

Tensions in France have been high since an event in Nice last month in which more than 84 citizens were killed [BBC report] by a truck that drove through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day. The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility [ABC News report] for the attack, which followed a call by IS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani for IS followers to kill non-believers in the West through any means possible. Four men believed to be connected to the attacked were arrested [JURIST report] by authorities later in July. The Bastille Day attack is the second most deadly in a string of terrorist acts in France, including the November 13 Charlie Hebdo attacks [BBC news archive], which claimed 130 lives, and the murder [BBC report] of two French police officials by a man claiming allegiance to IS.