French presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy brands the burkini a ‘provocation’ that supports radical Islam
Tough-talking right-winger says he supports ban on Islamic swimwear in the name of protecting secular values
FRENCH presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy has waded into the Burkini debate -- branding the muslim swimming costume a "provocation" that supports radical Islam.
The tough-talking conservative said secular France doesn't "imprison women behind fabric".
Former president Sarkozy, 61, who is planning to run for office again next year, made the comments at a time when France is gripped by debate over the controversial attire.
Photographs emerged yesterday of a woman being questioned by police in Nice on suspicion she was wearing the banned full-body costume.
But it is thought the incident could have been a photo-op designed to attract publicity.
Nice is one of several coastal resorts to have outlawed the muslim-compliant item -- which covers the body from head to foot -- from its beaches.
In an interview that will appear in Le Figaro magazine on Saturday, right-winger Sarkozy said: "Wearing a burkini is a political act, it's militant, a provocation.
"If we do not put an end to this, there is a risk that in 10 years, young Muslim girls who do not want to wear the veil or burkini will be stigmatised and peer-pressured."
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In a separate talk with French broadcaster TF1 on Wednesday, Les Republican party leader Sarkozy said that Muslims in France are French people "exactly like any other ones".
But he insisted they must "assimilate" into French culture and society rather than "imposing their differences on the majority".
The centre-right figure has set himself up as a hardliner on issues of identity and security.
He has previously said he opposes introducing halal and kosher options in schools as it goes against the state's staunchly nonreligious principles.
Last week, three muslim women in the plush resort of Cannes were among the first to receive a fine for breaching the town's burkini ban.
One of the town's top officials has said the burkini makes women "look like terrorists", while Mayor David Lisnard said the "ostentatious" clothing caused a risk to public order.
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