France's highest administrative authority is studying whether local bans on full-body burkini swimsuits are legal, amid growing concerns about police forcing Muslim women to disrobe.

The city of Nice, still shaken by last month's deadly extremist attack, has joined a growing list of French sites to ban the body-covering burkini swimsuit.

France's prime minister is expressing support for local bans of burkini swimsuits, saying the swimwear is based on the "enslavement of women" and therefore not compatible with French values.