Burqini banned in Italian town

London, Aug.20 (ANI): Muslim women have been banned from wearing the body-concealing swimming costume known as a burqini in the northern Italian town of Varallo Sesia.

According to The Telegraph and Italy's official ANSA news agency, the burqini consists of a headscarf, tunic and loose leggings and women wearing the garment, face a fine of 500 Euros (430 pounds).

Gianluca Buonanno, the mayor of Piedmont in northern Italy, said: "The sight of a 'masked woman' could disturb small children, not to mention problems of hygiene. We don't have to be tolerant all the time."

Justifying the move, Buonanno added: "Imagine a western woman bathing in a bikini in a Muslim country. The consequences could be decapitation, prison or deportation. We are merely prohibiting the use of the burqini."

Last week a swimming pool in Paris refused entry to a burqini-clad woman on similar grounds, adding to tensions over Muslim dress in France. (ANI)