Paris (AFP) - President Francois Hollande insisted Thursday that France's strict laws separating church and state do not prevent the country's large Muslim minority from practising their religion. In a speech on terrorism and democracy coming in the midst of a debate on the banning of the Islamic burkini swimsuit, Hollande said: "Nothing in the idea ...

The United Nations (UN) has welcomed a decision by a top French court to suspend a controversial ban on Muslim womens full-body swimwear, known as burkini, saying such bans fuel religious intolerance in the country. Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the UN rights office, made the remarks on Tuesday after Frances highest administrative court ruled ...

French mayors are refusing to remove a ban on burkinis despite the countrys highest administrative court ruling them as illegal. On Friday, Frances Council of State suspended the controversial ban on Muslim womens full-body swimsuits on the grounds that it violates the basic freedoms of dress, religious expression and movement. As of Sunday,...

Frances Council of State has suspended a controversial ban on Muslim womens full-body swimsuit, known as burkini, which has stirred anger among Muslims and split government officials. The highest administrative authority in France issued the ruling after an appeal by the League of Human Rights to overturn the burkini ban in the town of Villeneuve-...

A top French court is set to study a ban imposed on women wearing full-body swimsuits, known as "burkinis," on the beach, amid concerns in the European country about violations of freedom of religion. France's highest administrative authority, known as the Council of State, will hold a hearing on the controversial ban on Friday and is expected ...

A series of photos showing French police enforcing a ban on Muslim womens swimsuit, known as burkini, have stirred public anger in France, with some activists calling the move shameful. I am so ashamed, wrote French feminist, Caroline De Haas, after images surfaced in the media on Wednesday, showing a woman dressed in leggings, a tunic and ...