In a first, France bans 10 at Cannes beach for wearing burkini, fines 4 of them

Cannes: For the first time since the ban on burkinis on Cannes beaches, the French police on Wednesday issued warnings to 10 women and fined four of them for violating the ban.

According to a report in Daily Mail, some of the women, aged between 29 and 57, were accompanied by their children to the French beach, while others were spotted swimming in the sea in burkinis.

Police imposed a fine of £32 each on four women before asking all 10 of them to leave the Riviera resort of Cannes. The warnings would mean all the 10 women would have a criminal record.

The French authorities took action against these women on the basis of new rules imposed last weekend by Cannes Mayor David Lisnard.

“Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to anyone who does not have bathing apparel that respects good customs and secularism,” the new ruling states.

Later, Mayors of three more resorts in France expressed their interest in following Lisnard’s footstep and imposing ban on burkinis.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls had also supported the ban on burkinis, saying the swimwear is based on the "enslavement of women" and therefore incompatible with French values.

The burkini, a wetsuit-like garment that covers the torso, limbs and head, has prompted a growing national discussion about Islam and women's bodies, even though it's only worn by a handful of Muslims.

Three French Mediterranean towns have banned the garment on beaches this summer, citing security concerns after a season marred by deadly extremist attacks. Critics say the bans are discriminatory and could inflame religious and social tensions. Many also see the bans themselves as sexist, decrees from male mayors telling women what they can and can't wear.