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Banned from swimming pool for following her religion
Peter Allen, in Paris12.08.09
A Muslim woman was banned from her local swimming pool in France for wearing a “burkini” — a bathing suit which covers her head and body.
Carole, 35, says staff told her the three-piece outfit was “inappropriate” and has complained to police that she was the subject of political discrimination.
It follows President Nicolas Sarkozy's comments in June that burkas are a “sign of subservience” for women which should be banned.
Carole, who agreed to be pictured but did not want her surname published, bought the burkini in Dubai for about £40. It consists of leggings, a long-sleeved tunic, and hair covering.
“I was told that it would allow me the pleasure of bathing without showing off my body, which is what Islam recommends,” she said.
Carole, who converted from Christianity when she was 17, said she called a number of swimming pools to check her burkini would be allowed.
She added: “The manager of the third had a look at the burkini, and originally said there would be no problem, but made it clear that he would not have the final decision.”
Carole then bought a season ticket at the pool in Emerainville, near Paris, for herself and her children and they enjoyed a number of sessions. But she was later told she could no longer wear the swimming suit because it was a “hygiene problem”.
However, Carole insists it is due to “political reasons”. She said: “For me, it's segregation. I'm going to continue fighting to have a choice.
“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.” But Yannick Decompois, swimming pools director for the Marne-la-Vallie area, said: “This isn't anything to do with segregation, but simply a hygiene problem. We also ban people wearing shorts in pools — it's the same thing.
“This woman can easily wear her burka at the library. We can't see any problem there.”
The case threatens to be hugely divisive in a country with a Muslim population of five million, the highest in Europe, but which has a strict policy of secularism which has already seen a ban on veils in state schools.
In June, Mr Sarkozy risked the wrath of Muslims by backing demands for the burka to be banned. He declared that the full-body Islamic gown is 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 during a speech in Versailles. The president was supporting a call by dozens of French politicians for the ban.
By going to police Carole will force them, advised by prosecutors, to decide whether the burkini ban amounted to racial discrimination — a ruling which will be seen as a landmark whatever the outcome.
The case would open the way for the courts to decide on people's rights to dress in a conservative Muslim fashion.
Meanwhile Palestinian children from the West Bank town of Tulqarem enjoy their first visit to the beach, at Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, today after the Israeli army gave them permits to enter Israel for one day
Reader views (48)
I tend to agree with Kelsey, Chicago: I used to surf and I did swimming competition when I was a kid/teenager - in France. Wearing such an outfit is simply dangerous. It has nothing to do with religion, try to swim with clothes on, only good swimmers won't drown!
- Nathalie, UK
Sadly, this is just the latest example of the vicious anti-muslim racism which is current in France. Young women who wear a simple headscarf are thrown out of schools! The only people really to profit from this kind of discrimination are Le Pen and his fascists.
- John Mullen, Agen, France
I work at a pool and while we strongly discourage such swimming attire, we do not ban it and it is not for hygienic reasons; it is for safety. If someone is wearing more, and thus heavier, clothing, their risk of drowning increases and the ability of us lifeguards to quickly extricate them from the water decreases. I do not think that the swimming pool in question should be banning conservative bathing suits, but rather they should be informing the guests of the risks involved. It doesn't seem to me that this is a discrimination issue, as it wouldn't be where I work, but I could just be naive.
- Kelsey, Chicago, USA
The Islamification of young British Muslims dress and fashion doesn't arise from individuals reading holy texts and working out for themselves that they want to wear a hajib, burka, burkini. The idea's mostly come from Imams or groups from abroad preaching in British mosques who have no sympathy or knowledge of the UK, integration or the difficulties faced by 2nd/3rd generation young muslims in Britain trying to make a life for themselves here. Which directions will their young be pushed and pulled to in 10 - 15 years time?
- Pamela, South London
I think people should be able to wear as much or as little as they like, in swimming pools and elsewhere; why should others interfere? Perhaps if there was more variety in dress, and less slavish following of fashion/culture, we would all grow up and accept that everyone is different and, in a free country, should be able to express themselves as they wish - so long as no harm is caused to others.
- Adam, London, UK
Sikhs aren't allowed to wear their religious symbol - the turban - in swimming pools. They abide by this and don't make a fuss...
Why is it 'One law for them... and one law for us...'?!
The French have the 'balls' the UK can only dream of.
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK
Give her directions to Alton Towers. They have gone the other way. They have banned tight speedos (known as "budgey smugglers" here and insist on guys wearing shorts. As long as the Burkini isn't too tight to reveal any human like shape, then Alton towers might allow it.
- Mark Laing, Sydney / Australia
Vive La France. Thank goodness somebody has the courage to stand up for commonsense.
- Tony, Beijing, China
Looking at some of the grossly overweight people at the beach in their budgie smugglers the same thought crossed my mind. They shouldn't be allowed in the ocean for fear of contaminating it.
- Len, Perth Australia
To Jon:
its not really the issue of the shorts itself, its the fact they can be worn outside and then taken into the swimming pool. or at least thats what Ive been told by a swimming pool staff.
- Josh, London
For crying out loud, the reason why shorts are not allowed is the fabric is not made for swimming.A lot of cotton fibers can clog systems, and people using street clothes often don't properly bathe before getting in the pool. People LOSE the shorts because they are not made to stay close to a body when wet(some do, some don't). If her garment was made with swimsuit fabric and engineered to keep her covered, then it is likely no health hazard!
This all being said, I remember the disaster I had when going into a pool with a romper that was made for dry land. There is a REASON they don't want land clothes in the pool, but her burkini doesn't seem to be a health issue. I think more a sensibility issue.
- Shellyjean, Arlington, WA
I am fed up that our tax money is being used to pay for these ridiculous court cases. When we go to their country we conform to their practices and customs. When they come to our country they should conform to our practices and customs. This is an abuse of our system. If they are not happy with it they should go back to where they come from.
- Serge Charlebois, Canada
Firstly, she wasnt travelling to the West, she born and bred in France. Secondly, the 'burkini' is made of the exact material that any other swimming costume is made of, the only difference is it covers her body. The thing i dont get is why do people have such as issue when one wants to cover herself up. When girls are prancing around in almost nothing, no one has a problem but as soon as you put some clothes on everybody jumps.
The french government keep talking about how the burka doesnt allow women to socialise when actually they themselves make muslim women look like the outcasts!!
- Zahra, London, UK
She's just trying to make a point, otherwise why did she phone several swimmingpools to check it was acceptable. Another one for the pointscorers.
- Sue R, London
I went to a well known holiday park in the Lake District in July where they allowed a Muslim woman to wear her burka in the swimming pool. I was concerned about the hygene implications, so I and my 2 children had to leave the pool.
- Elizabeth, Newcastle
This lady is just saying she wants to dress more modestly when she goes swimming. As long as it doesnt cause anyone any harm then it should be okay. Why are people so paranoid about their cultural values being damaged by minor things like this!? Use your common sense people! Anyway when divers go swimming they are in a swim suit which looks very similar to this burkini! So I dont see how this is a hygiene issue at all!
- Fred, London
She wasn't banned from the pool for following her religion. She was banned for not complying with the rules, which apply to everyone.
- Sarahn, London, UK
Many competion swimmers are adopting all in one costumes, it helps improve their performance. Are they to be banned from the Olympics?
- Ronald Whitten, Chesterfield England
I think more women should adopt this mode of swimwear regardless of their religion,it is a lot more attractive than some of the sights seen in traditional skimpy costumes.A war was fought to rid the country of an oppressive regime & now they are inviting in another.Are they to arrest all nuns for having the gall to wear their traditional habits?I think not.
- Ronald Whitten, Chesterfield England
Adam,Harrow summed it up entirely.I now admire the French who appear to have more common sense and backbone than our pathetic appeasing, accomodating (at any cost) lest we offend any marginal element gov't.I despair,An appeaser is respected by none.
- Tony ,Essex, Harlow,UK
The lady was NOT banned from the pool. Her inappropriate costume was banned.
- Peter, London
When UK woman travel to Saudi they have to cover themselves completely, eat in women only restaurants or suffer the indignity of having screens put round them in hotels. They accept the restrictions with good grace and obey the rules of the country. Others should do the same when travelling to the west.
- Claire, London UK
I'll leave the country and go to ............England! they will let me wear it and pay me compensation because they upset me
- Rob, Rock Ferry Uk
if it was the UK, she would be sueing for compensayshun - a legal aid lawyer would be blaming institutional racism, and the swimming pool stafff would be forced to attend a weeks diversity training! The Pool would then be forced to provide Muslim Women Only Sessions (this is a fact), where no-men would be allowed anywhere near the pool.
- Gary, amersham
I am hostile to the political movements of "Islamism" but I can only see this woman as a victim of Islamophobia.
There is no "health risk" from this burkini. She should be free to wear it in the pool.
- Danny, London
I think she should be given a full refund of the cost of her season ticket and that's all
- Barry, woking, GB
Doesn't look like a swimming costume at all - she could just as easily be going shopping, off to work or a party!...abd when she is just out of the water she can hardly look 'modest'!
- Gordonbay, London and Cape Town
Good decision.
We're English and live in France. We respect their laws, customs and practices, and try to fit in and be good citizens according to their culture.
I commend it to Carole.
- Frank O'Fyle, Le Havre
"if no solution is forthcoming I'll consider leaving the country"
And I'm sure mes amis les Francais will mourn your loss, they'll undoubtedly be waving you fondly goodbye as you board the Eurostar to London where we're too scared to stand up for ourselves against ridiculous claims like this.
- Bob, Cheam
I have always been unsure of the background to the "health issues" of wearing shorts. Can someone enlighten me as to the issues - my swimming shorts have an inner lining so why are they not allowed?
- Jon, london,England
>>Banned from swimming pool for following her religion
Sorry but that's rubbish. A Burka and all the variants are left overs from Yemeni/North African culture that existed prior to Islam. They are not required in Islam. Modest dress is all that is required and that applies to Men as well.
The Burka should be banned full stop no matter where it exists. No tolerance for the intolerant.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Soz, France is pretty strict on regulations and it doesn't matter what your creed or colour: they tell you what to wear at the swimming pool. None of the dozen or so pools in my area will let men in unless they are wearing the little tight Speedos described my Ma Larkin in Darling Buds of May as 'pudding bags' . . . ! You can buy a pair on the premises: my husband and his friend's reaction to this assault on their modesty was hilarious! But Carole can still comply with her religion, as it is also compulsory to cover the head - even if you are bald 
When in France, do as the French do . . .
- Roz, France
If boys and men are required to wear tight fitting Speedos for "safety reasons" why would women be allowed to swim in such loose fitting and unsafe clothing?
- Trunk, US
Oh come on - there are many other costumes a woman can wear whilst swimming, without revealing her body for whatever reason. Whatever this burkini is, it does not look at all safe for swimming in.
Nicholas Sarkosky was right.
- Nowan King, London
Whatever the rights or wrongs of the decision, this would never happen in the UK. Why? In the UK people are too scared to even tackle such questions.
Here in France you will find that this causes much less "uproar" than you suspect. The French, including the muslim population, have a strong national identity which they feel is worth protecting. To do that personal beliefs sometimes need to take a second place.
Fair? Probably not always. But at least it's out in the open. In the UK these questions/issues are suppressed for fear of offending.
- Shaun, SE France
"When in Rome"
- Tom, paris
“I'm going to fight this problem through anti-racism groups, and if no solution is forthcoming I'll consider leaving the country.”
Please go and live in another country which forces you to cover yourself but treats you like a second class citizen and where you have no human rights and where women are forbidden to drive. Democracy is not for you.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark
When in Rome!
- David, London
Good,why should people who have religious beliefs be privileged?Would i be allowed to swim in the pool with a balaclava on?why do i have to remove my crash helmet in a Bank when the masked religious believer stood next to me in the queue does not?why must i show my face to a buss driver to confirm my photo card id when the masked religious believer in front of me does not????France again has it right as regards equal rights,and they do not allow religious privilege,and that is right and fair.And they wont be intimidated by religious believers,unlike the spine less British.
- Kev, London-UK
As people from any race can be Muslim, 'racial' doesn't apply. Pretty simple really. It certainly would be a landmark case if this approach worked - just about anything could be attached to that label (a deliberate play on words) if this turns out to be the case.
The 'hygiene' excuse though - hmmmm, iffy! (...and I agree with Sarkozy about the style of dress, so I'm not a closet Islamic fundamentalist scoring points!)
- Rogan, Irving
I was refused entry to a swimming pool in France for wearing board shorts instead of speedos. Was it because I'm white? No. It's a cultiral thing and that's it.
- Mark, London
Read The Imam's Daughter for a true inside story of a muslim girl growing up in a standard UK muslim community. A closed world ruled by fear of men, females obey, or else. She shows the stark contrast when she moves into main UK society which has freedom and love (tolerance) of your neighbour as values.
It explains a lot about the burka, muslim women, taleban, suicide bombers, killing schoolgirls, closing schools, Pakistan, Palestine, forced marriages, 'honour' killings and the violence from the Middle East which says it is peaceful, but does the opposite.
Highly recommended, and should be compulsary reading for all politicians, cmmunity workers and children.
- Mo, bradford uk
Good.
If you are that religious that you have to cover yourself head to foot for a dip, then you are that religious that you will be offended by all the semi-naked Christians and the men swimming in the same pool.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
do we care what happens in France. Not really................
she looks like she should be in a 007 film.
- Jonny, London
"This isn't anything to do with segregation, but simply a hygiene problem. We also ban people wearing shorts in pools — it's the same thing."
This I can back up for Mr. Decompois. The first time I used a swimming pool in France, in 1991, I was told I was not allowed to wear shorts for hygeine reasons...I thought it might have been the ill-advised dive bomb method of pool entry that had upset them.
Anyhow, they offered me the loan of a pair of "speedos", which I hastily declined, left the pool, bought something appropriate to their rules and returned another day and have gone there as frequently as I can ever since.
Looking at the outfit, hygeine aside, one has to wonder if there might be a safety issue with it as well.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County
Sarkozy's right. What's wrong with a swimcap and wetsuit?
- Stuart, Ferndown, UK
The swimming pool got it spot on, in my opinion. Would I be allowed to jump into the same pool fully clothed? I don't think so.
This woman buys the garment in Dubai - an Arab state - and then complains when she can't wear it in a swimming pool in a non-Arab country. Just another example of someone trying to abuse the "power" of their religion to get their own way. When in Rome, Carole...
- Jock, London
Hahaha - Alton Towers banned speedos the other day in the name of protecting innocent children from having to look at men in speedos whilst in France it's speedos all the way!
- Isabel, Woking
