Paris pool bans Muslim woman in 'burqini' swimsuit

Thursday, 13 August 2009 1:38 AM

A Paris swimming pool has refused entry to a young Muslim woman wearing a "burqini," a swimsuit that covers most of the body, officials said Wednesday.The pool ban came as French lawmakers conduct hearings on whether to ban the burqa after President Nicolas Sarkozy said the head-to-toe veil was "not welcome" in secular France.

Officials in the Paris suburb of Emerainville said they let the woman - who purchased the burqini in Dubai - swim in the pool in July wearing the outfit designed for Muslim women who want to swim without revealing their bodies.

But when she returned in August they decided to apply hygiene rules and told her she could not swim if she insisted on wearing the garment, which resembles a wetsuit with built-in hood.

Pool staff "reminded her of the rules that apply in all (public) swimming pools which forbid swimming while clothed," said Daniel Guillaume, an official with the pool management.

Le Parisien newspaper said the woman, identified by her first name Carole, was a French convert to Islam and that she was determined to go to the courts to challenge the decision.

"Quite simply, this is segregation," the paper quoted her as saying. "I will fight to try to change things. And if I see that the battle is lost, I cannot rule out leaving France."

"I bought it thinking that I could enjoy swimming without having to uncover myself," she said.

Local mayor Alain Kelyor said "all this has nothing to do with Islam," adding that the "burqini" was "not an Islamic swimsuit, that type of suit does not exist in the Koran," the Muslim holy book.

France, home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority, has set up a special panel of 32 lawmakers to consider whether a law should be enacted to bar Muslim women from wearing the full veil, known as a burqa or niqab.

The country has had a long-running debate on how far it is willing to go to accommodate Islam without undermining the tradition of separating church and state, enshrined in a flagship 1905 law.

The burqa debate in France has drawn chilling warnings from Al-Qaeda that it was ready to "take revenge for the honour of our daughters and sisters."

Communist MP Andre Gerin, who heads the National Assembly's burqa commission, called the "burqini" ridiculous and said pool administrators were right.

"We can't allow this. This is proof that there is a political agenda behind such dress," Gerin told Le Parisien.

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Posted by: megan mueller Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:46 PM[UAE] - us

how on earth could the burqini be unhygenic? it is more hygenic, it keeps hair and dead skin cells out of the pool. how can anyone allow bikinis but refuse women the right to have any dignity and remain fully clothed. this is not about religion, this is about self respect. the goverment should not be able to dictate what women wear so long as they are clothed. the more clothed the better. people should encourage women to have more dignity and wear more thatn just a bikini.

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Posted by: AJ Thursday, 20 August 2009 12:21 PM[UAE]

I really dont see any point in making the 'burqini' (quite an innovative name though) an issue of any degree. It is a specially designed swimwear garment made out of fabric of acceptable standard, and similiar to what professional swimmers wear in international swimming events. This is clearly France's way of subjecting their racial discrimination towards french muslims, especially with this following the recent 'veil' issue; in a way similiar to how I am told how to dress, behave & live in the UAE. I find that discriminating too by the way; maybe it is more religious discrimination than racial discrimination, but is there really a difference?

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Posted by: Humming Bird Monday, 17 August 2009 1:58 PM[UAE] - UAE

T Crowe: you're spot on! Reading the comments from both sides, most of them "preach" to be open and respectful but sadly the next thing they do is they "Tell" others to chnage to what they think is right. Be REALLY open and be REALLY respectful to others no matter if they have an opinion different than yours! As for the issue at hand, I think people (men and women) should be allowed to swim in the pools wearing a lycra dress specially designed for swimming. If these are allowed to be used by professional swimmers in international events such as Olympics than I guess these can also be used "safely" without any "hygeine" concerns in public/community pools. Peace!

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Posted by: Greer Sunday, 16 August 2009 6:27 PM[UAE] - Thailand

Yes its true that as Nat says, traditional dress is fine as long as reciprocal rights are accepted. I do feel that wearing such dress may be unhygenic for swimming, but I also understand that some wish to do so. I simply think that it is unrealistic to expect a cututre into which one has immigrated, to change their regulations and rules to suit the minority. In may ME countries, it is not just expected, but it is the law, that females must cover up. So when a western woman wishes to wear different clothing, is it allowed? No way! Please realise that balance and harmony are the keystones - you have to apply all regulations and laws equally, no matter the creed or code...and if you cant accept that, then you must realise that others have no reason to accept your views either.

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Posted by: rene Sunday, 16 August 2009 3:11 PM[UAE]

Hey people, come on. If there is a national law to live up to, then your should adapt, both locals as visitors. Question is: Is there a law in France that forbid Burqini ??? If not, how can you forbid then. It is made of the same licra as normal swimsuits so "higiene issue ??". Further as European I am used to a lot, realy a lot, but one thing I can say since I live in the Middle East, muslims wash 5 times a day. Alternative option is interesting here: Has anyone lately seen the swimsuits during World Cup swiming and Olympic swining ?? FULL COVER SUIT make you go nice and fast. Add to that a bathing cap to cover your hair (keep dry and clean of chlorine) and "voila".... FULL COVERAGE. I don't think a "law" against the Burqini will hold up in Europe. (if France accepts it, it can be questioned in front of EU-law). It is not a Burqini, just an olympic swimsuit with attached bathing cap. Same as we use for diving (1.0 mm rash suit). Good luck and a big laugh from Holland.

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