A woman in France was attacked and left badly bruised by a gang of Muslim women for sunbathing while wearing a bikini in a public park.

The attack prompted French women to push back by wearing bikinis in public and posting photos of themselves to social media using the hashtag #jeportemonmaillotauparcleo–I wear my swimsuit in Park Leo, or #jeportemonmaillotauparc–I wear my swimsuit in the park. The attack took place at Parc Leo Lagrange in Reims last Wednesday. Protesters in bikinis gathered in Parc Leo on a cool Sunday to take a stand for freedom.

The Independent reported the attackers were from a public housing complex largely populated by Muslims.

"The five attackers, aged 16 to 24, were quickly arrested and the three oldest have been remanded to appear in court in September, while two girls aged 16 and 17 face further questioning. The authorities have not named them but said that they all came from housing estates with large Muslim populations.

"It is not yet clear whether their unnamed 21-year-old victim was of French or north African origin. She was sunbathing with two friends in the Parc Léo Lagrange in Reims on Wednesday when one of the women verbally abused her for "immorally" exposing so much flesh in a public place. When she shouted back, the other girls and young women crowded around and slapped and punched her, police said. Passers-by intervened, and the victim was badly bruised rather than seriously hurt.