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Women who who would have attended the event were
told by organisers to be covered from the chest to the knees
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A waterpark near the French city of
Marseille has cancelled a day booked by Muslim women to wear "burkinis",
the all-over swimming garment.
A statement made by the waterpark
said the decision had been taken to preserve public order which was
being endangered by "extreme ideological positions". The "burkini day" was intended only for women wanting to wear the garment.
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'Burkinis' have been worn by lifeguards in Australia
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But it was criticised by conservative politicians who argued it contravened legally-enshrined secular values.
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The eveny scheduled for 10 September has now been shelved
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Event Organisers
Smile 13
had said that the event, scheduled for 10 September, was for women
wearing an all-over body suit that covered from the chest to the knees.
The group had made clear that two-piece swimming costumes would not be
allowed.
Smile 13 says that, since announcing its plans earlier this month, it has received revolver bullets delivered by courier. In
a Facebook post (in French), the group condemned what it called "the Islamophobic polemic" to which it was subjected.