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French Prime Minister Supports Local Bans on ‘Burkinis’

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French prime minister Manuel Valls has entered the fray over full-body swimsuits, known as “burkinis,” offering support for several coastal towns that have banned them from beaches.

Valls said Wednesday that wearing a burkini is “not compatible with the values of the French Republic,” The Guardian reports.

There is a growing debate in France over burkinis, which are worn by some Muslim women, with three seaside towns banning the swimsuit, including the island of Corsica. Valls said he supported local actions, but he did not call for a nationwide ban.

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