Burkini ban case tossed back to Belgium by top human rights court

The European Court of Human Rights referred the case in which two women complained about the ban on wearing the burkini in a municipal swimming pool in Antwerp back to Belgium.

The drawn-out court case dates back to 2017, when the two women were not allowed to enter the pool in their burkinis, a full-body swimsuit, on the basis of a municipal by-law. They argued that represented discrimination on the basis of religion, and took the case the court.

According to ECHR, the claimants have not exhausted court options back home, and can still appeal to the Belgian Court of Cassation.

The ECHR only rules on the case once the applicants have exhausted domestic remedies. The decision is final.

Burkinis are worn largely by Muslim women to preserve modesty while upholding their faith.

While Belgium never officially banned burkinis, the body-covering swimsuits are prohibited in the majority of swimming pools across the country.