Apparently you don't have to be Muslim to hit the beach this Summer in a burqini. For those of you who don't know about this season's must-have swimwear, the burqini is a head-to-toe bathing suit originally designed for modest Muslim women. But British TV chef Nigella Lawson recently made waves when she was spotted wearing the full-body suit for nonreligious reasons. Inspired by this Read more

Starting today, any woman in France wearing the burqa or niqab Muslim veil in public will face a fine of over $200 and take a course in French citizenship. And anyone found forcing a woman to wear a veil will be subject to a $40,000 fine. The all-covering veils have been a hot topic in France for years with different interests taking various positions. Nicolas Sarkozy's government says the veil Read more

French women protest ban on burqa, which took effect yesterday — The Frisky Educated women now just as likely to get married — Washington Post Roman Polanski's victim gives account of her rape — Jezebel Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams's new movie gets NC-17 rating — Deadline John Lennon would turn 70 tomorrow: 70 things you didn't know about him — Flavorwire Everyone has forgotten Read more

We're thrilled to present our favorite Double X story here on TrèsSugar. Last year, I lived and reported from Yemen and grew to loathe the niqab (the face veil) on the grounds that it's an oppressive and anti-feminist tool to keep women both fearful and subservient. In speaking with both educated and illiterate Yemeni women, as well as Muslim women's rights activists, I learned that many of them Read more

French lawmakers overwhelmingly approve ban on face veils — CNN Whoopi Goldberg says Mel Gibson isn't a "racist racist" — The Frisky Do Democratic women lack Sarah Palin's charisma? — Double X Brad Pitt finally shaves his beard — PopSugar Woman sentenced to 30 years for sex with son she found on Facebook — MSNBC Michelle Obama talks to NAACP about childhood obesity — Politico Should Read more

"One decides to veil, the other decides to flaunt. But both have internalized the idea of being sex objects as central to their identity." —Stanford educated Shiite Amal Ghandour tells Newsweek that Muslim women like the new Miss USA don't differ that much from those who decide to wear the veil. She reasons that many women who wear the full-covering veil see themselves as prizes for the men Read more

An Iranian cleric made headlines and set off a boobquake when he recently claimed immodest dress causes earthquakes. Now, Tehran's police chief is taking on this "threat" by arresting "suntanned" women. The chief explained: "The public expects us to act firmly and swiftly if we see any social misbehaviour by women, and men, who defy our Islamic values. In some areas of north Tehran we can see Read more

Cheese. Wine. Baguettes. These are all seemingly welcomed signifiers of French identity. Burqas? Not so welcome. France has been debating a ban on the head-to-toe garment for some time now. Most recently, the country's immigration minister Eric Besson said yesterday that burqas should not be worn on French streets because they are not part of the country's "national identity." Besson wants the Read more