The violence was totally unrelated to picture-taking or the subsequent ban on burqinis, it was because three Muslim brothers from Morocco were trying ‘privatize’ the beach by blocking all non-Muslims from entering.

UK Express Residents of Sisco, in the French island of Corsica, claimed that three Muslim men of Moroccan descent tried to ‘privatize’ the beach they were on, by lobbing stones and vile insults at anyone trying to enter.

Three Muslim brothers and two villagers were arrested yesterday in connection with what some French media are calling a ‘burkini brawl’ after local authorities revealed that the group of tourists taking pictures of burkini-clad Muslim women did not trigger the violent scuffles.

The two Corsicans have since been released, but the three Muslim brothers remain in custody. All five face immediate trial on charges of ‘gang assault’ and were due to appear in court. In addition to these charges, the three brothers are being accused of ‘violence involving the use of weapons.’

The violence, which left five people injured, got so out of hand that more than 100 police officers had to rush to the scene to break up the fight.

Yesterday, one of three Muslim brothers told French TV station iTele that he and his family were having a peaceful “picnic” but other witnesses claimed they had spent the day physically and verbally attacking tourists and local youths, in an effort to privatize the beach and make sure people stayed away.

On Tuesday, Ange-Pierre Vivoni, the mayor of Sisco, imposed a burkini ban on his beaches, and asked locals to “respect the town’s secular rules.”

Vlad Tepesblog

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