Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Woman Banned From Parisian Pool for Wearing Burquini
Share:
by Alyzee | August 12, 2009 at 11:18 am
820 views | 29 Recommendations | 36 comments
A Muslim woman was prevented from going swimming at her local pool in Paris because of her burqini, a swimsuit that covers most of the body. Officials insisted on Wednesday that she was stopped to maintain French pool hygiene standards, which include laws disallowing any baggy or `street-compatible` clothing, according to the Associated Press. These laws also prevent swimmers from wearing Bermuda shorts and advocate tighter costumes.
The 35-year-old convert to Islam, Carole, chose to wear the burquini for religious reasons. David Guillaume, the regional official in charge of swimming pools maintains that the action was taken in the interests of public health and not because of any hostility towards Islam.
"These clothes are used in public, so they can contain molecules, viruses, et cetera, which will go in the water and could be transmitted to other bathers," Guillaume said in a telephone interview.
However, Carole was allowed to swim in the pool last month, according to the national post. The pool ban was effected after French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that the head-to-toe Islamic covering was unwelcome in secular France.
Guillaume said Carole had tried to file a complaint at a local police station, but her request was turned down as groundless.
The woman told Le Parisien, a local daily, that she would seek the help of anti-discrimination groups, according to the Accociated Press. She reportedly feels strongly enough about it to reconsider living in France.
“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.”
Advertisement
NowPublic on Facebook
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most Recommended Comment
Recommendations (29)
Anonymous user
Uwe Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Barry ORegan
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canadacaj1
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Beaulieu
London, United Kingdom
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (36)
at 11:42 on August 12th, 2009
In parts of London they have special days for Islamic women only to swim. Not only that, but you see Islamic women canoeing. I wonder if they have stopped that in France? What happens if they fall in and 'contaminate the water?'.
Surely the swimming pool is contaminated more with loads of children doing 'all sorts of unmentionable things' in the water and people being sick in pools (I remember someone was sick in my pool in Tunbridge Wells, and they had to close it). Of course, they don't tell you stuff like that in their corporate blurb, after all, people wouldn't go.
It is about time France had a woman president, I think.
France is clearly solving the obesity crisis in the community by preventing women from swimming, some even born in France. They pay for the swimming pool, via taxes, maybe they should refuse to pay them and protest.
I think she should certainly stay and be a thorn in his backside and set up a Protest Group on Facebook or something.
at 11:46 on August 12th, 2009
But they don't ban nudists in France or topless modelling. At least this woman has her decency:-) Clearly France has its own 'standards'.
at 11:50 on August 12th, 2009
Maybe the Arabs should stop giving France oil and/or boycott French goods. It works both ways.
at 12:25 on August 12th, 2009
Yes, this oppression. It is a matter of time, before they stop giving Muslim women the vote.
at 12:26 on August 12th, 2009
There's oppression in most parts of the world too etc, and I think we need more women presidents (but not a 'Margaret Thatcher' type person:-0)
at 12:28 on August 12th, 2009
Maybe women doctors should refuse to treat French people. I would be fuming if I was a Muslim woman in France.
at 12:31 on August 12th, 2009
No wonder a voodoo type doll was made of Sarcozy!
at 15:42 on August 12th, 2009
Though I can see your arguements, there is a little thing called "When in Rome.............................
Would western women be so accepting if they were to live in a Muslim country and told they must wear a full length burqini and cover their face showing only slits for eyes, oh and all in 120 degree heat! If you fail to, they will whip the crap outta you by the Morality Police.
Would you comply with this custom? Not to mention walk 10 paces behind a man? I thought not!
Assimilation is one of the protocols of anyone living or immigrating into ones country,
Whether it be France or Saudi Arabia! IF they do not the laws of that country they are most welcome to leave. For Gods sake even Nuns wear bathing suits to the beach or pool.
So ask yourself is it really modesty or is it France must change just for little old me?
Like I said when in Rome...
at 16:10 on August 12th, 2009
I agree with you Barry...when in Rome, do as the Romans do! This is France we're talking about, land of great couture (fashion), not soggy wet clothing.
at 16:31 on August 12th, 2009
when in Rome do as the Romans do? That means lots of sex with anyone including same sex, and plenty of wine!
at 16:33 on August 12th, 2009
No! I was just referring to the expression itself..."when in Rome, do as...." I was not advocating anything else!
at 00:09 on August 13th, 2009
Italian PM Berlusconi is!
at 00:27 on August 13th, 2009
caj1 when I lived in Rome I tried my best to live the maxim to the full and enjoyed many hot young nymphs and drank plenty of wine but my time ran out before I could enjoy same sex, but those young Italian boys are sure good looking!
at 00:48 on August 13th, 2009
Funny:-)
at 19:39 on August 12th, 2009
Youre my new bestest pal j2b
at 22:18 on August 12th, 2009
Yes, that's right J2B, everyone drop their standards when they go to France. Lots of casual sex etc....!
at 00:07 on August 13th, 2009
the Italian PM, Berlusconi lives by that rule, when in Roma......... especially if she's under 18-years!
at 16:29 on August 12th, 2009
just to be clear, this is a French born woman who converted to Islam. There are western women who convert to Islam, move to a country like Saudi, and accept the position of women in those countries.
This does not mean I agree with anything, but I think days for Muslim women, or just women would be a way to provide for these women.
at 21:34 on August 12th, 2009
Their is also a little thing called freedom of religion which entails being able to freely practice ones own beliefs.
I would like to inform you as a Muslim woman myself you are not required to cover your face in Islam this is optional, what is required is the head and the body, which is why you see the woman all in black that people like to turm as "ninjas". Also a woman is NOT and I repeate NOT required in Islam to walk 10 paces behind her husband, this is a hilarious fabrication witch myself and my Muslim sisters howl over when we speak of it.
Oh and how many nuns do you personally know to speak of their habbits( no pun intended).
at 23:23 on August 12th, 2009
I always thought Muslim women were clever walking 10 yards behind their husbands, if there's a roadside bomb, well!
at 22:48 on August 12th, 2009
I can see your point Barry, but it doesn't appear to be so cut and dry.
What about in Canada - French Quebec? They won't be a very happy bunch of individuals if they aren't allowed to practise their language. In fact, I can see them foaming at the mouth.
And how many Western men go to Dubai and dress in that white Arab outfit you see men wear? I don't know what you call it.
In Lebanon, I wore Western clothes (but not revealing) in the Christian Area and covered myself in a scarf in the Muslim area, mainly as 'it is a form of respect for women'. When it is very hot in fact being covered in a scarf can be very comfortable. One of the benefits of wearing that 'is the respect you get' and you don't get hassled by the men. I found it much safer to be over there in than in the UK. In Western countries, they 'love to let it all hang out' because often they have less self respect for themselves - but it is 'fashionable'. As a woman, it is relief not to be pestered by blokes, particularly if one is attached.
It is not as 'oppressive' as people think. Underneath the clothes, they often wear some wonderful bright coloured sparkly clothes. At home, I believe they are more relaxed but still respectful. The fact that Western 'women could be flaunting themselves (without thinking they are) to any Tom, Dick and Harry is uncomfortable. It can be respectful to the man they are with (and to themselves). How many times do men in Western tell women off for having a very low-cut cleavage? Yes, some do and sometimes they force them to 'tone down'. I don't like the unwanted attention, and be eye candy for any old bloke.
I think they are on to a good thing:-
at 11:04 on August 13th, 2009
Bad example here Beaulieu,
Quebec was Rome though and the English imposed their rules as second comers and invaders of upper and lower Canada.
So the English did not follow the saying "when in Rome do as the Roman..." Or they would all speak French today, same would be true for Vermont, Michigan and would you go father back in history then they should all speak Cree wish is an Algonquian Languish or they would/should speak the Innu languages Montagnais and Naskapi.
The French however, where integrating them self far more into the Native American Culture and Languish then the English did, due to the high number of French/Native American Metis Families, a race of primarily French-Cree mixed-bloods, and distinct French and Cree populations, Those are still today making up a fair portion the population in Quebec.
In the 2006 Census, 389,785 people identified themselves as a Métis person in Quebec wish is out of 7,782,561 People.
Do not forget that Canada has today only 32 million people and there for the French make up 30% of the total population since you do have Francophone in Ontario and Manitoba as well as other provinces as Aboriginal populations. Northern Ontario is mainly Francophone.
at 23:39 on August 12th, 2009
Barry, here's a photo of a Burqini, no wonder they banned it!
at 01:16 on August 13th, 2009
Oh that's a funky work of art:-) Ah beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say.
Shouldn't women wear what they want to wear? Who is oppressing us, the Muslim men or the Western men?
Now, there are lots of badly dressed men, complete with pot bellies. Perhaps they should wear something to cover up themselves. Us women don't want to see that either.
at 11:14 on August 13th, 2009
I do not think that this is a good analogy here Barry.
Do we want the same standards then in Saudi Arabia as well?
Or are we upholding our believes of democracy, freedom of believe and expression here?
What is next? Shall we outlaw the Punks, Buddhist, Hindus, Orthodox Christian and Goth?
Why don't we reintroduce the Concentration Camps as well?
I hope we wake up before that.
at 01:18 on August 13th, 2009
When is he going to make a start on Buddhist robes?
at 02:31 on August 13th, 2009
Beaulieu, don't forget the aliens. What will he do when they live amongst us?
at 01:20 on August 13th, 2009
Are nuns being oppressed by their clothes?
at 10:24 on August 13th, 2009
interesting that nuns have gotten mentioned.
nuns would not fight for their right to swim in their penguin-clothing.
as for sharia law creeping into europe, anyone who wants it should move to Saudi Arabia.
at 02:47 on August 13th, 2009
No notice nuns are never the subject of discussions such as these, but Muslims seem to be getting attacked from all sides. I am curious as to why this is?