France prides itself on its non-religious traditions, but recent images showing women being intimidated by French police on Nice’s beaches have started to cause a stir accross the internet.
The pictures show four police ordering a woman in modest muslim-style clothing to change her outfit. It is believed that the woman was given a warning about the acceptable dress code on the beach, and was then given a fine for her attire.
The police are armed with pepper spray as they approach her while she sleeps. They speak to her and write her a ticket for a 38€ (£32) fine. She took off the blue garment she was wearing.
The news comes after another young muslim woman was ordered to leave the beach in Cannes and fined for wearing a headscarf. Three officers pointed pepper spray at her and said she was opposing a new rule that outlaws swimming costumes that cover the whole body, including Burkinis.