Wave of French towns ban burkinis

PARIS (AP) — The city of Nice, still shaken by last month's deadly extremist attack, has joined a growing list of French sites to ban the body-covering burkini swimsuit.

Leading officials argue that the swimwear, resembling a full-body wetsuit with a hood, oppresses women and violates France's secular principles. But many see the bans as discriminatory.

Nice was devastated when a man drove a truck into crowds watching fireworks on July 14, killing 85 people in violence claimed by the Islamic State group. About a third of the victims were from Nice's large Muslim community, which is both in mourning and fearing a backlash.

The Nice administration issued an order Thursday banning swimwear with religious connotations, citing security concerns.

Several other cities on France's Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts have banned burkinis this summer.