Paris Pool Bans Woman for Being Fully Clothed
It's widely understood that Muslim women don't don the latest from the Victoria's Secret swimwear line. In fact, prior to the conception of the "burqini," which is described as a wetsuit with a hood, there were no water-apropo outfits for Muslim women at all. The burqini isn't even an Islam-approved outfit: it's just a way for Muslim women to feel comfortable enough to go swimming by preventing them from exposing their bodies. It seemed like a way to keep everyone happy. Well, everyone but the French government.
A Muslim woman was denied entrance to a public pool in France because she was "too clothed." And I'm having a hard time understanding any of the logic behind that.
The burqini: a problem for the French public pool system because, according to every online news source ever, it's not hygienic. The reasons behind this are a bit scattered: Some say it's because the burqini has no specific component to cover the genital area, which does make sense, especially since it's assumed that the pools ban swimming shorts with the same excuse. Others say the burqini isn't hygienic because it can be used as an everyday outfit and be worn in public, which could carry bacteria into the pool. I have a hard time accepting that as a reason since my own 18-year-old sister has a habit of wandering into gas station convenience stores to pick up bottles of Gatorade prior to beach trips in nothing but her bikini and flip-flops. Either way, the implementation of this rule is standard at public pools in France, not just a one-time scenario.
But I'm still not buying it, because since when is it okay for the democratic government to dictate what kind of bathing suit I wear?
France has been anti-burqa for a while, wanting to free Muslim women from the cotton-poly-blend oppression of their religion. But all the country is really doing is putting apparel restrictions on Muslim women, forbidding them from wearing what is most comfortable. I just hope Carla Bruni, the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, doesn't have a "fat" day anytime soon, because she'd be screwed.
What do you think: Is the burqini issue all about hygiene? Is it another act of religious discrimination? Or is it just another example of the fashionable French telling us how to dress? Let me know. For now, I'll be cooling off in my parents' backyard in my bikini. Feel free to join--we have no dress code here.
--Remy Braun
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Well, they ban swim trunks and only allow tight swimsuits for men... so I can't see why they would allow a burquini. Regulations are regulations? It's hardly discrimination when Average Joe is obligated to wear a speedo for hygiene reasons.
This is nothing more than what is stated, a question of public standards regarding hygiene, and the rest is making a mountain out of a mole-hill. As said, voluminous shorts are not permitted, and they were banned here in France several years ago without any one causing an upheaval. I cannot even wear pool-side shoes when going to a public swimming pool here in France, but most go bare foot from the change room to the pool. I don't like it, but that too makes sense. There can indeed be dirt on the soles of shoes. To make a statement that Calra Bruni had better not have a fat day is just silly and misleading, attempting to turn this into something it is not, in my opinion.
This is nothing more than what is stated, a question of public standards regarding hygiene, and the rest is making a mountain out of a mole-hill. As said, voluminous shorts are not permitted, and they were banned here in France several years ago without any one causing an upheaval. I cannot even wear pool-side shoes when going to a public swimming pool here in France, but most go bare foot from the change room to the pool. I don't like it, but that too makes sense. There can indeed be dirt on the soles of shoes. To make a statement that Calra Bruni had better not have a fat day is just silly and misleading, attempting to turn this into something it is not, in my opinion. The question of banning overt religious signs such as the Muslim headscarf, Kippah, or a cross in schools has everything to do with the public school system here, and the legal separation of Church and State, and is nothing new at all. Again, it is dangerous to make statements that mix everything together and attempt to get people riled up based on an emotional reaction to overly simplified reporting. Just my opinion, of course.
I am a muslim and i think the officials in charge have the final right to decide what is allowed or not. At the same time, this statement really worries me. Mayor Alan Kelyor said "We are going back in civilization. Women have fought for decades for equal rights with men. Now we are putting them back in burqas and veils." Does he forget that women of all countries have also fought for the right to make their own decisions and one of that may be the decision to cover up or not. Now who looks intolerant?
This is just one more step in France's attempt to "liberate" Muslim women at the expense of their right to make their own decisions.
If it were anywhere else I'd buy the hygiene thing, but France has had a war on the burqa from the getgo, and it's really starting to piss me off.
If you move to another country or change religions you are still under the law and rule of where you live. Other wise go to the country that allows it. You can't have people coming to our country and changing our customs and rules. I have no problem with it.
What is wrong with people. If the woman wanted to swim and her religious beliefs are that she should be fully clothed so what!!!!!!! Let the woman take a swim for gosh sakes.
Yes, this decisioin should be removed because uder the teaching of islam we can't live like other religion because we have our own cultural norms. So paris is a multireligion state and it should defend the basic norms of all religion.
Why did you delete my comment ???! :(( I think I have never said anything wrong in it ....! I am Muslim myself & wanted to show another opinion ...too bad I haven't kept a copy of it but I remember it was polite & tolerant ...