The mayor of Cannes, France, has banned full-body swimsuits known as burkinis, calling them a "symbol of Islamic extremism."
David Lisnard, who leads the resort city known for its annual film festival, said burkinis raise concerns about public order in France, which is on high alert as the target of recent Islamist attacks, the BBC reported.
Those not in compliance will the rule will be asked to change and could face a fine amounting to about $42 U.S. dollars.
"Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to any person wearing improper clothes that are not respectful of good morals and secularism," the ruling states, according to the BBC. "Beachwear which ostentatiously displays religious affiliation, when France and places of worship are currently the target of terrorist attacks, is liable to create risks of disrupting public order."
Security has been increased in France following a terrorist attack in Nice, which is about 20 miles from Cannes, that killed more than 80 people last month.
France's Muslim Federation of the South called the burkini ban illegal and an abusive use of power, NBC News reported.
"We strongly condemn the illegal and abusive use of such procedures to unique purpose of stigmatization and exclusion," the group said in a Facebook post.
Thierry Migoule, head of municipal services, attempted to clarify the ruling, saying, "We are not talking about banning the wearing of religious symbols on the beach ... but ostentatious clothing which refers to an allegiance to terrorist movements which are at war with us," according to The Telegraph.
Full-face veils have been previously banned in France.
Most comments on Twitter seemed outraged by the new rule.