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Doug, in your comment you state that we do not live in a Christian society yet are curtailed by those rules wheras other religions have no say.

Firstly, the reigning monarch of this country is the leader of the Christian Church of England, the monarch still has power over Parliament so therefore we have a Christian rule.

Secondly, shop opening hours are not always definate. You will often see shops run by people of different ethnic origins with their shops open long past the usual 4PM. It is all down to the owner's choice. Sorry that it's off topic a bit but I needed to say it.

As for this rule, it is simply stupid in my opinion, not only could it be considered dangerous but it will make people avoid the pool and make them lose money, people are not going to have special swimming costumes for that pool.

- Zak, Milton Keynes

So let me see. Shops and pubs have their opening hours curtailed every Sunday nationwide because of the Christian edict of keeping the Sabbath holy. Everything closes in the last week in December because of the (fictional) belief that Jesus was born on December 25th.

Anglican bishops have the unelected right to form policy and vote against government legislation in the House of Lords. And so on and so on.

But I forgot! This is a *Christian* society. Err....no it's not.

The level of church-going amongst nominally Christian people in the UK is virtually nil. The churches are either empty or closing down. You can be assured that pretty much none of the above posters has attended a mass service in the last year.

And yet there is a special dispensation, a special influence for the Christian voice, in a secular society that wouldn't go into church if you dragged them there.

But no, apparently the problem is that one local council thought to set aside a few hours a week in a local swimming pool for Muslim women.

There's political correctness gone mad okay, but most of it seems tilted in favour of a Christian ethos nobody subscribes to any more. This only becomes a 'Christian country' when people want to attack immigrants.

I mean, God forbid that these champions of a 'Christian country', 'Christian culture' or 'Christian values' should ever actually go to church or anything.

Spare me the self-righteous bile people. Go to church and pray for forgiveness instead.

- Doug, Dublin

What in the heck are you people doing over there? Your PC/MC addled minds just can't roll over far and fast enough to appease those who wish to enslave you. Ole Churchill is rolling over in his grave. Can't wait to see what happens next.

- Greg L, Lake Vermillion, MN USA

I cannot understand why in a free society that policy makers are attempting to placate one religious group by forsaking the masses. There should be one policy that applies to all Britons and if some sub groups find it offensive they don't need to partake in the Government provided service.

All these stories I keep seeing coming out of England about tip toeing around Muslims are just plain stupid!
Common Sense secular policies are always the best.

Also to continue to make policies that are specifically made to make sure Muslims are not offended are not only offensive to Rational Muslims they are offensive to all non-Muslims. In fact the only group you are not offending are the radical Muslims. So right there you are admitting that the Radical Muslims have won and Briton has given up.

- Dan, Bangor, Maine USA

Apartheid in all the real sense of the word, implememnted by UK Councils against its town people.

Harry

- Harry, Stepney

At present Muslims have every right if they so wish to request designated swim times at public baths. They are tax payers the same as the rest. The issue goes a lot deeper. This ludicrous ideology and other "religious" ideologies have a free reign in this country promoted by the loony left backed by radicals. This is what multiculturalism is, it is not intigration. Religion is separatist by default. Until they camels back is broken...

- Jan Van Antwerpen, Langley

Listening to some of those comments makes me sick...

Having said that, why the hell is there a need to make such a big fuss about swimming - we can raise funds and build majids etc so if there's a real need, then we can also raise funds and build bleeding swimming pools for muslims!

Why force non-muslims to wear this stuff? Hell, why bother going swimming at all?! I dont see the big deal! We share the streets with non-muslims but we're not exactly gona change the way they dress/behave etc are we without being an example to them, such that they can clearly see that muslim values make sense.

The effect of stupid things like this is that other people with border-line views on muslims or even those who were ok with muslims, would start freeking out and say stupid things like some comments... which only annoy everyone else...

Give muslims the option to wear burkinis - accept them, dont impose anything on non-muslims and let them see what muslim values are, perhaps some will understand, some will be curious and seek to understnad and others wont give a damn, but that should be the approach.

- Bakit, London, UK

I have been living in a multi-cultural society for many years, where muslims and non-muslims work and live together. During the yesteryears, the muslims who uses the public swimming pools would wear swim trunks ( for men) and "westernised" swimwear ( for ladies )without any fuss. Why are the muslims of present are so concern about donning their "muslim attire" for the pools. The muslims now in some Asian countries are seen swimming in public pools, wearing T-shirts and normal pants. This is a sublime demonstration of total ignorance by some muslims, who are only concern about their convenience and not the health standards of other non muslims. The Croydon council should think about the macro aspects of protecting the health standards and livelihood of the general populace instead of the micro side of pleasing a few. The muslim council should instead, build their own "muslim swimming pools" for muslims, if its such a big fuss.

- Julien, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We do far too much pandering in this country to the needs of Muslims - and local authorities seem to have jumped on to the bandwagon by coming up with increasingly dotty rules in this regard. We can only be thankful that Croydon has now seen sense after all the comments made about their ruling.
If any local authorities are concerned about those of other faiths living in their communities, wouldn't it be advisable for them to first contact faith groups to get these groups' opinions first before jumping the gun with dotty rulings which have everyone up in arms?

- Judith, KIng's Lynn, Norfolk, UK

I agree with all readers'comments.

Also just for a laugh, let's force all Croydon Council employees to cover up in burquas for both men and women and parade them up and down the street!!
See how they'll like it!

- Cath, SE Europe

These people who make these rules are the real racist and segragation fanatics.
These people are the type that will cause race riots.
These people have no common sense but blindedly follow political correction.
These people have no place in society.
These people are a waste of space.

- Joe, Swanley Kent

It's about time people in authority, who clearly have little to do with their time and are merely justifying their post, were made to see that their actions can actually cause more upset that appeasement.

And whatever makes them think they are correct?

As a born and bred Englishman, I am sick and tired of this persistent pandering to the ethnic minorities, while the rest of us have to struggle with authority.

Councils are complaining about lack of funds - well get rid of some of these idiots who have been given the power to make such stupid and irrational decisions.

- Tom Watson, London

What on earth were Croydon Council thinking of, making a silly rule like that in the first place? The only sensible words on the subject have come from the Croydon Mosque and Islamic Centre.

- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands

This kind of policy just breeds resentment. Why should non-Muslims have to wear Muslim dress?

- Alice Jones, London, England

Why have they created 'Special Muslim Sessions' if you wish to create a good strong healthy community where everybody is equal one group should not be promoted or disadvantaged ahead of another.

This is typical of Labour & left leaning councils, instead of promoting union among the people they operate an apartheid system & promote differences.

- Peterb, Chelmsford, England

REMOVE THE MUPPET FROM OFFICE WHO INSTIGATED THIS.

THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH HATRED IN THE UK WITHOUT SOME COUNCIL WOMBLE MANIFESTLY EXCEEDING THEIR AUTHORITY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ABUSING THEIR IGNORANCE.

- Reuben Camara, Principality of Morecambe, UK

About 20 years ago, my achingly PC Council (Waltham Forest)proposed bringing in separate swimming sessions for gay people. I think that so many minds were boggled that it never actually happened.

- Mdj E10, london uk

Cameron is absolutely right!

- Roz, France

So Christians have to abide by fundamental Islamic oppression? Christian men and women have to subjugate themselves for an alien religion.

Our soldiers are dying almost daily to protect our society and our country from fundamentalism, but we have the Liberal-Lefties undermining the very freedoms that foreigners who bring their religions and cultures here come for.

Observe your religion, culture, customs, but remember you are a guest in this society and are tolerated. So be as tolerant or leave.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

The Croydon employees who devised this policy must be sacked. This is not a Muslim country. But, more significantly, policies like this cause hatred towards the Muslim community and innocent Muslims who did not ask for the policy are forced, once again, to defend themselves. Too many policies like this are fostering hatred towards Muslims.

- Cameron, London

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