French President François Hollande spoke defiantly against the controversial idea of a nationwide burkini ban during a powerful hourlong speech about his country’s democracy and security. Stringer/Reuters A woman wearing a burkini visits a beach in Marseille, France, on Aug. 27, 2016. The controversy has engulfed political and public discourse in France, polarizing national leaders and even triggering protests beyond French borders. Neil Hall/Reuters Protesters in Britain demonstrate against France's burkini ban outside the French Embassy in London. Burkinis “imprison women behind fabric,” suggested Sarkozy, who called to ban them at a national level and, along with Valls, expressed an interest in prohibiting Muslim veils in universities.

Source: Huffington Post September 08, 2016 20:45 UTC