Send this page to someone via email

People have taken to social media to post photos of nuns wearing their habits on the beach in response to the controversial burkini bans in France.

On Aug. 23, photos emerged of four armed French police officers forcing a woman wearing a burkini — which leaves only the face, hands and feet exposed — on a beach in Nice to remove some of her clothing.

According to the French news agency AFP, the woman was fined for not wearing “an outfit respecting good morals and secularism.”

READ MORE: France burkini ban backlash after photos show woman removing coverings, police issuing fine

Many people are sharing the nun images to point out what they seem to view as hypocrisy at play.

I wonder if France would make these ladies take their clothes off too. #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/PP6EIWlaoZ — Irene Adler (@The_Whip_Hand) August 24, 2016

Story continues below advertisement

Plenty of nuns in France. Can't see police telling them to remove their clothes #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/86cOF6Nr7U — Mary Hitchman (@maryhitchman) August 24, 2016

Nuns can wear their habits in France's Cannes Beach, but Muslim women can't wear burkinis. How's that progressive? pic.twitter.com/gPpur1xrJZ — Christopher J. Hale (@chrisjollyhale) August 24, 2016

"Muslims are subject to the same clothing laws as the rest of France – no exceptions to the law"

"What about nuns?"

"Oh, that's different" — Andy Ryan (@ItsAndyRyan) August 24, 2016

Would be great to see a couple of formidable nuns accompany each burkini-clad woman to the beach and just sit there, daring the police. — Ben Stanley (@BDStanley) August 24, 2016

Dear Nuns in France, Can you please help out our Muslim Sisters & visit beaches in your habits!#BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/nfYbj1r5Zr — Nickie (@MuskokaMoneybag) August 24, 2016

Authorities in several French towns have implemented bans on the burkini citing concerns about religious clothing in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in the country.

READ MORE: Cannes bans full-body ‘burkini’ swimsuits from beaches citing security concerns

French Muslims are concerned that decisions taken by some authorities to ban the body-covering swimwear could lead to further stigmatization of Muslims, the head of an organization representing Muslims in France told Reuters on Wednesday.

France’s highest court, Conseil d’Etat, will meet on Thursday to consider a complaint against the ban.

President Francois Hollande’s government has backed the decisions taken by mayors to impose the ban, arguing that the burkini violates French laws on secularism.

*With files from Reuters.