‘Dress as you like’ beach protest over burkini ban

A CARDIFF woman is so disgusted at scenes of French authorities apparently forcing women on beaches to take off their “burkinis”, that she has organised a “beach protest”.

Catrin Davies, 32, from Cardiff, wants as many people as possible to head to Barry Island on Sunday, September 4, for the “wear what you want” beach party. She said: “I saw the photos [of a woman being approached on the beach by police officers] and I felt disgusted, and thought we should do something to highlight how ridiculous it is.

“I want to show solidarity with the women affected by this, that they can’t be in public places.”

Religious clothing is outlawed in schools in the secular country, and items which cover the face, such as niqabs and veils, but also helmets and balaclavas, are also banned in public places.

Full-body swimwear for women seems now to have fallen foul of the principles of secularism, and polls suggest a majority of citizens are in favour of the ban, imposed after the Nice terrorist attack last month.

Catrin said she hopes people will turn up to her beach protest dressed any way they want – in a burkini or as a scuba diver – to make their point.

She added: “It’s an opportunity for people to show they stand with them and they agree it’s completely ridiculous and people should be allowed to dress how they want.

“Hopefully it will be a fun day as well. It’s about hope and positivity, not hate and divisiveness.

“We are not having a go at French people, we are saying let’s all calm down a bit.”