Burkini ban to be tested in French courts

France’s highest administrative authority is studying whether local bans on full-body burkini swimsuits are legal, amid growing concerns in the country and abroad about police forcing Muslim women to disrobe.

Images of uniformed police appearing to require a woman to take off her tunic, and media accounts of similar incidents, have elicited shock and anger this week.

Some fear burkini bans in several French towns are worsening religious tensions. The bans, based on the strict application of secularism policies, have exposed division within the government.