Muslim woman banned from wearing a ‘burkini’ in a French swimming pool
August 12, 2009 by Guest Author
Source: The Mail
The Burkini swimsuit – designed to spare the blushes of Muslim women worldwide - was plunged into controversy yesterday.
A French mother was banned from wearing the three-piece outfit at her local swimming pool.
Carole, a 35-year- old Muslim convert, was told it was ‘ inappropriate’ on hygiene grounds, but she insists the ban is racial discrimination.
It follows French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently attacking Muslim burkhas as a ’sign of subservience’ for women and saying they should be banned.
Carole - who did not want her surname published - bought her burkini for £40 during a holiday in Dubai.
She said: ‘I was told that it would allow me the pleasure of bathing without showing off my body, which is what Islam recommends’.
She approached a number of swimming pools before the manager of one in Emerainville, near Paris, said there would be no problem with the burkini.
Carole, who converted from Christianity when she was 17, insisted: ‘For me, it’s discrimination. I understand that the burkini can shock, especially as we’re in France, but what disturbs me is that this is a political issue.
I’m going to fight this problem through anti-racism groups, and if no solution is forthcoming I’ll consider leaving the country.’ She has made a formal complaint to police at nearby Meaux.
Yannick Decompois, swimming pools director for the Marne-la-Vallie area, said: ‘This isn’t anything to do with discrimination, but simply a hygiene problem. We also ban people wearing shorts in pools - it’s the same thing.’
French pools bar any clothes that can also be worn outside, where they can pick up dirt and contamination.
In June Mr Sarkozy risked the wrath of Muslims by backing demands for the full-body burkha to be banned, calling it a sign of the ‘debasement’ of women.
‘In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity,’ he said.
The president was supporting a call by dozens of French politicians for the ban.
France has Western Europe’s largest Muslim population, an estimated 5million. But in 2004 it passed a law banning the Islamic headscarf and other conspicuous religious symbols from state schools, sparking fierce debate at home and abroad.
Comment:
As the proud owner of a burkini, I can assure you that the excuse of hygiene issues are non existent. The burkini is made out of a light, easy to dry material, very suitable for swimwear and is an absolute must to women who wish to swim but also keep their modesty. The burkini is not something that a woman would choose to wear outdoors. I have used the burkini in my local pool and it has not been a problem. I can see now that another debate is going to arise. My question: “Who is oppressing Muslim women? Islam or the West?”
Y’know, on the one hand, I remember before I converted to Islam how I used to look at Muslim veiled women with pity. If I saw a burqini, I would think they are oppressed. Now, as a Muslim, I look at it and think, firstly, why in the world would people stop others from dressing modestly (???) and secondly, my body is my own business, who are you to tell me what to wear?
Ignorance is NOT bliss…
Assalamu alaikom,
I agree with Sister Xenia that this has nothing to do with hygiene; that’s just a silly excuse on the part of those who are against it.
And since there’s also a ban on men swimming with shorts on, it just goes to show how obsessed the West is with indecency.
On the other hand, as a Muslim myself who was brought up in the West and who can understand the point of view on both sides of the fence (so to speak), I have to ask: how desparate are we Muslims (men or women) to go for a swim?
I mean, if it’s a women’s-only swimming pool, then a modest swimsuit covering the parts that are considered “awrah” between women should be enough. (that is, unless, there’s a fear that there are people with cameras around that could misuse them).
On the other hand, if it’s a public/mixed swimming pool or a public/mixed beach, then I would highly advise any Muslim NOT to go there (regardless of whether the person in question is a man or a woman).
Once in Australia, I believe there was this controversy about female Muslim life-savers (with a full “Sharia-compliant” swimsuit).
In reality, the swimsuit wasn’t exactly Sharia-compliant and it looked absolutely rediculous.
So the question arises once again… How desparate are we Muslims for a swim? Is waiting for the right time and place to go for a swim that much of a “sacrifice”?
I enjoy swimming pretty much myself and as a fair-skinned person, I could use a suntan once in a while… But knowing how the beaches are here in Dubai (for instance), I’d rather wait a whole year till I can go back to my country and swim in my parents’ private (mostly secluded) swimming pool, rather than go to a public beach where lowering one’s gaze is a “wee bit” of a challenge.
Asalamu Alaykum Br Adelfos.
I could not agree more. The Burkini is only suitable for: QUOTE[I mean, if it’s a women’s-only swimming pool, then a modest swimsuit covering the parts that are considered “awrah” between women should be enough.]
Is not a licence to swim in mixed swimming environments
The only time I have felt desperate to swim was last year ,when on holidays with my 12 year old daughter in a UK resort where swimming was one of the ” main attractions” and the weather was not permitting nature walks or other activities. Stuck in a hotel room for a week would have been a nightmare.
Also I find that the women’s only swimming sessions in the local swimming pools tend to be at rather inconvenient times. So swimming under these stressful circumstances would cause more damage than good. Lol. So I would also rather leave it.
Salam
Do not let muslims take over our nations,,give them an inch, they will take it all, get them out of western nations!