For over roughly three months, there has been anuproar regarding the Burkini ban in France, which was specifically created after the terror attack in Nice. Women dressed in the Burkini, a full body swimsuit (covers everything except for hands, feet, and face) designed by a Lebanese-Australian designer, are fined€38 (or 42USD) if caught wearing the Burkini in public beaches in France. Though France’s top administrative court has just vetoed the Burkini ban, French officials state that they will still continue to enforce the Burkini ban; they argue that the Burkini prevents women from assimilating into French society and goes against France’s secular code.France’s secular code began in 1905 when a law ordering the separation of the church and the state was passed. Religious groups no longer received funding from the state and places of worship became government property. Individuals were also banned from displaying religious artifacts in public places and state-funded schools could not have religious education in their curriculum. France’s secular ruling further intensified in 2004 when students were prohibited from wearing headscarves, burqas (a garment that covers women’s entire body), and niqabs (cloth covering the face) to schools. Although this ban was met with vehement criticism from the French Muslim community, over 69% of French citizens and 49% of Muslim women were in favor of the law. However, the issue currently at place is not the 2004 ruling on secularity and display of religious objects at school but the Burkini ban. According to Aheda Zanetti, designer of the Burkini, the Burkini ban is an overt display of “hatred” towards Muslims and was designed not to separate Muslims from society but to enable them to participate in activities such as swimming lessons and sports.By enforcing the Burkini ban, officials are furthering the divide and exacerbating the discrimination French Muslims experience daily. French Muslims, especially those with Northern African or African sounding names, are less likely to be selected for job interviews than individuals with traditional French names. Most of them also live in suburbs called banlieueswhere the majority of the individuals are unemployed and are surrounded by terrible conditions. In addition, the Burkini ban takes away the intrinsic identity of a Muslim woman. Muslim women choose to dress modestly not because they are forced to do so but because they want to. They do not want to be judged based on their appearance and do not want to receive unwanted attention from males. They also want to remain identifiable as Muslims and are proud to be so.I personally am in awe of the French Muslim women that continue to display their faith and stick to their convictions despite the criticisms and discrimination hurled against them. I strongly believe that they have every right to wear whatever attire they want and should not be prevented from doing so because of fear that they are promoting their religion. Fear itself is not the solution to the problems France is currently facing with regards to helping Muslims integrate into society, and instead poses a tremendous challenge for French Muslims. As such, I am with the women that want to continue fighting against the Burkini ban in France. I am hopeful that for as long as French Muslim women remain resilient and unwavering, officials will see that the Burkini ban is not the right solution and should be overturned. This article was written by Serena Uy. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Illustration Credit: Gabriela Naumnik