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A young Muslim mother was ordered off the beach at Cannes and fined for simply wearing a headscarf.

Three armed officers pointed a pepper spray canister in the 34-year-old’s face and told her she was in breach of a new law against swimming costumes that cover the entire body.

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She said the ‘racist’ officers simply wanted to humiliate her in front of her children and other family members, even though she was not even wearing a burkini.

Named only as Siam, the woman is a former air-hostess from Toulouse whose family members have been French citizens for at least three generations.




‘I wasn’t even planning to swim, just to dip my feet,’ said Siam, who was wearing leggings, a top, and a headscarf.

Voici la vidéo des deux jeunes filles se faisant sortir de l'eau par la police à #Nice06 Sans porter de burkini… pic.twitter.com/NoY6i6V7bK — Feiza Ben Mohamed (@FeizaK) August 22, 2016

Siam said she was not fully aware of Cannes being one of a small number of towns that have banned the burkini.

The beachwear does not cover the face either, and is also worn by non-Muslims who want protection from the sun, but critics claim it is provocative.

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When asked why she was dressed ‘inappropriately’, Siam replied: ‘I didn’t know exactly what was going on, I hadn’t really followed the controversy.’

Siam at first refused to undress or to leave the beach, saying: ‘My children were crying as they witnessed by humiliation.’

Other women have also been fined for wearing a burkini (Picture: Vantage)

Mathilde Cusin, a journalist with the France 4 TV channel who witnessed the entire incident, said: ‘I saw three police officers watching the beach. One of them had his finger on the trigger of his tear gas device, no doubt containing pepper.’

Then Ms Cusin said the officers went for Siam, was wearing ‘a simple hijab [a headscarf that does not cover the face] around her hair’..

People on the beach started shouting insults at Siam, telling her she was not welcome in France, and that she should ‘go home’.

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Siam accepted an on-the-spot fine of around £9, and her details were recorded by officers.

She added: ‘Today we are not allowed on the beach. Tomorrow, the street? Tomorrow, we’ll be forbidden from practising our religion at all?

‘I’m in the country of human rights. I see no trace of the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. I am outraged that this could happen in France.’

David Lisnard, the right wing Republican Party mayor of Cannes who introduced the burkini ban in the first place, defended the police officers’ behaviour.

The burkini ban has proved cnotroversial (Picture: Vantage)

Mr Lisnard said all ‘beach dress that ostentatiously shows a religious affiliation’ was unwelcome at a time when France was a target for Islamic State.

He said any dress that might be linked with the terrorist group was offensive and risked provoking people, so risking public order.

Additional reporting by Peter Allen in Paris.