There are plenty of reasons to be fearful of Islamic terrorists but banning modest swimwear on public beaches seems unlikely to have much real effect on making people safer from terrorist attacks.

The New York Times and other media outlets are reporting how France’s highest administrative court has suspended a French town’s ban on “burkinis” — a name given to full-body swimwear worn by some Muslim women in that country.

The French court’s ruling only directly affects one French town but sets a precedent that likely means similar bans in other French towns will be struck down if challenged. Among French communities with rules against burkinis is Nice, the site of an awful terrorist attack a few weeks ago.

The French court ruled laws against burkinis violated civil liberties including freedom of movement and religious freedom. The rule that was struck down targeted bathing attire that is not “appropriate,” that is not “respectful of good morals and of secularism” and does not respect “hygiene and security rules.”

It’s hard to understand how those who cover more of their bodies are less appropriate than those who cover way too little — especially those men and women who show too much despite bodies that most would prefer to see less. And how are good morals challenged by covering too much of their body while those covering too little go unchallenged?

Easier to understand would be bans proposed in some countries over those who cover their faces in public, who seek to have their faces covered even when having their photo taken for a driver’s license or passport. There would be real security issues about that practice that could be justified.

Pictures of some of the women in France wearing the burkinis showed women in outfits similar to track suits or workout attire worn commonly in public by lots of people and with caps covering their head like bathing caps you still see some female swimmers wear, unrelated to any religious beliefs.

There are Christian denominations where women keep their bodies mostly covered, dressing very conservatively by U.S. standards. There are people who have sensitivities to the sun who you see wearing long pants, long sleeved shirts and big hats to avoid too much exposure, or people who aren’t comfortable with exposing their body because of their shape and who go to the beach but wear clothing different from what the average beachgoer is wearing.

Are there perceived security threats from those people too even though few would assume they were Muslim?

If countries start banning clothing they associated with people of particular religious faiths will we see a day when people who have certain physical characteristics are banned because they look like those who are a threat to us? Remember how U.S. citizens of Japanese descent were interred during World War II because some thought they’d automatically side with the enemy.

Yes we’ve got to find ways to combat Islamic terrorism, but banning conservative attire on public beaches is not likely to have any meaningful impact.

WILL CHAPMAN

PUBLISHER