The politics of burkinis: Mandatory for women in Syria, banned in several European countries

The politics of burkinis: Mandatory for women in Syria, banned in several European countries

Syria’s Islamist-led government now requires women to wear burkinis, head to ankle swimwear, while going to public beaches, citing ‘public interests’. France was among the first nations who doubled down on the burkini by banning it in public pools, citing secularism and security concerns a few years ago. Why is the swimwear at the centre of a cultural tug of war?

Syria’s new Islamist-led government has introduced a fresh set of modesty rules, now requiring women to wear burkinis or similarly “decent” swimwear that covers most of the body at public beaches. File image Reuters