UK swimming pools encourage burqinis

SWIMSUIT BAN: 'Burqini' encouraged at some UK swimming pools. (Getty Images)

Some swimming pools across the UK are encouraging strict dress codes during Muslim-only swimming sessions, according to a report in the Telegraph.

Rules which require women cover from the neck to the ankles and wrists and men from the navel to the knees are being implemented at several municipal pools across the country, the paper said.

The moves run counter to the ‘burqini’ incident in France last week, when a woman was thrown out of a Paris swimming pool for wearing the costume that covers most of the body.

The 35-year-old woman named as Carole was told that she could not wear the burqini, which she bought in Dubai and resembles a wetsuit with built-in hood, for hygiene reasons.

According to a report in the paper, several public leisure centres across the UK run separate swimming sessions at which modest dress should be adhered to.

Croydon Council on its website urged male swimmers at the Thornton Heath Leisure Centre to “cover the body from the navel to the knee and females must be covered from the neck to the ankles and wrists". This guidance has since been removed from the website.

Meanwhile at Scunthorpe Leisure Centre, in North Lincolnshire, swimmers must " follow the required dress code for this session (T-shirts and shorts/leggings that cover below the knee)", the paper said.

However, the dress restrictions have caused anger among critics who say it encourages division between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Douglas Murray, director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, told the paper: "This kind of thing is extremely divisive.

"Non-Muslims see these extremist demands as an example of Muslims wanting things to fit into their lifestyle, when there aren't similar things organised for Hindus, Buddhists or Jews.

"It also puts moderate Muslims in an awkward position as it suggests, wrongly, that they are not devout enough, simply because they choose not to cover themselves in a shroud in a pool."

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READERS' COMMENTS

Respecting each other's culture
Posted by Jennie, London, UK, United Arab Emirates on Monday 17 August 2009 at 12:17 UAE time


Reiterating Caroline's comment above, I had the utmost pleasure of residing in Dubai for a period of two years, and as a practising Christian, fully concurred to the laws of the land in that I attended Church in the Church Compound in Jebal Ali and did not speak of my religious convictions to anyone but my close Christian friends. I dressed and acted in accordance with local sensibilities. This is what is called respect, and anyone travelling to a 'foreign land' should adopt it as their guideline, research the laws of that land and act accordingly.

Burqa in Islam
Posted by Abu Zahra on Monday 17 August 2009 at 11:33 UAE time


Islam requires women to be modest and modesty should be practised from heart and not simply by external coverage. Ofcourse any dress or attire which makes a women look sexy and tempts a man to stare at a women is not allowed since this will eventually corrupt the society to the extent that no women will be spared by mischivous men. Thus, the bottom line is, not burqa, but a decent attire which does not draw unnecessary attention in public places. If women whether muslim or not follow this principle the world will be a safe place for all women and men too.

Cultures
Posted by Musa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday 17 August 2009 at 09:46 UAE time


Covering a woman’s body is a must in Islam and not an option to a woman... on the contrary, wearing a mini skirt or similar clothing, although not necessarily wrong depending on ones beliefs, is not a must in Christianity or in any religion, hence an option that can be avoided! On that basis, I do not see why if the woman is being respectful of the society she couldn’t abide to her religious rulings! The sad thing is that this is coming from the same people promoting freedom of choice and opinion!

UAE VISITORS TO RESPECT FRENCH POLITIC ABOUT VEIL AND BURKINIS
Posted by Caroline, DUBAI, UAE on Sunday 16 August 2009 at 13:56 UAE time


As French expatriate living in the UAE, I fully respect the muslim culture, behaving accordingly to not offend locals or face a jail /deportation sentence.
I am really upset to see that some unrespectful tourists visiting my country behave against the respect of our culture! We do accept all religion in our land, as long as NO RELIGIOUS party or Sign is revendicate in public places, religion is kept privately and to the personal level only. So when it comes to women hiding under a Burka, Veil, Jellabah or Abbaya, France is firm on this subject,because it's a SERIOUS OFFENSE !
Muslim tourists must be aware of our politic/culture and behave accordingly before visiting our country or avoid traveling there if they don'twant to accept our rules.

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