[panglott]

If religious practices cause actual harm to other people, that's a reasonable cause for state intervention.

But as far as I can see, this is about people who to wear a certain kind of hat or style of swimsuit. How is that conceivably an actual harm against other people?

[harperlee]

I believe that preventing the tension buildup that leads to violence is a reasonable cause for state intervention.

The ban of the burkini is a misguided attempt to alleviate that tension.

Although this is very sad to write, nowadays in France being very publicly muslim increases that tension.

Using burkinis that contrast your being covered whilst the rest of the people on the beach/pool are semi-naked is included in being very publicly muslim.

Also, there is a big element of context in this article. See my comment at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12352798.

[dragonwriter]

> The ban of the burkini is a misguided attempt to alleviate that tension.

Its so badly and obviously misguided as a technique to that intent that it is simply implausible that that is the actual intent, specifically in that it does the exact opposite, and that it is transparently obvious that it would do so, and that even if you might excuse someone for failing to recognize this in a vacuum, the fact that a number of similar previous bans have been both proposed and implemented in Europe, and France specifically, with wide media coverage and the same counterproductive effect makes it impossible to believe any policy maker anywhere in France (or, on Earth for that matter) could, other than through willful ignorance, be unaware of the likely effect.

[mywittyname]

It's almost like France is actively encouraging terrorist attacks by giving fundamentalist groups ammunition for recruitment and radicalization.

These stories of oppression spread throughout the world and we know they are used by groups like ISIS to spread their message.

[harperlee]

So then willful ignorance must be the reason. But I'd bet it also has on political points with the right wing part of the electorate...