French pool bars Muslim woman for 'burquini' suit

[thundley4]

Example of a burquini.

PARIS – A Muslim woman garbed in a head-to-toe swimsuit — dubbed a "burquini" — may have opened a new chapter in France's tussle between religious practices and its stern secular code.
Officials insisted Wednesday they banned the woman's use of the Islam-friendly suit at a local pool because of France's pool hygiene standards — not out of hostility to overtly Muslim garb.
Under the policy, swimmers are not allowed in pools with baggy clothing, including surfer-style shorts. Only figure-hugging suits are permitted.
Nonetheless the woman, a 35-year-old convert to Islam identified only as Carole, complained of religious discrimination after trying to go swimming in a "burquini," a full-body swimsuit, in the town of Emerainville, southeast of Paris.
She was quoted as telling the daily Le Parisien newspaper that she had bought the burquini after deciding "it would allow me the pleasure of bathing without showing too much of myself, as Islam recommends."

Yahoo

Any bets that this will go through the courts in France, and her religious freedom will trump health and welfare of others?  If she doesn't win, there would probably be more riots and protests. 

[AllosaursRus]

I see burning cars in the future of France!

[Chris_]

Muslim Woman Banned From Parisian Public Pool for Wearing 'Burquini'



Sorry, can't show the story.  It's from AP.  See the link below:

AP story

[debk]

I thought the last comment in the article was interesting....

"The incident adds to controversy over the wearing of the head-to-toe burqa or other full-body coverings worn by some Muslim fundamentalists. President Nicolas Sarkozy wants them banned."

[SilverOrchid]

She looks like a scuba diver.

[jtyangel]

I don't think their arguments hold water(the french). Say what you will about Muslims, but some of the comments from the french in there really are bigoted and I do believe that is what really fuels their opinion on this. Think we have to be careful of letting our distaste for ths particular religion given recent events overshadow the bigoted nature of the French. They are very very secular biased so I'm suspicious of any of their rulings on religious items to be quite honest. That said, Muslims have willingly chosen to live in a very secular and religious biased community like France then they have no reason to complain about the anti-religion bias that the French have. It's funny though to watch a bunch of rabid anti-religious zealots go up against a bunch of Islamic fundamentalists. 
I would like to see how DU handles this story. The fits they must have between defending what they see as enemies of the US(their favorite cause to defend) and the very secular euro French lefties who support the bans. The mind reels with humor. 

[DixieBelle]

^great point jty! I think the French are amoral and it's kind of funny to see how their bigoted campaign has backfired on them thus far.

I also don't get how baggy swimclothes is a hygeine issue. To me, figure-hugging, minimal suits (think tiny speedo) are gross.

[jtyangel]

^great point jty! I think the French are amoral and it's kind of funny to see how their bigoted campaign has backfired on them thus far.

I also don't get how baggy swimclothes is a hygeine issue. To me, figure-hugging, minimal suits (think tiny speedo) are gross.

I was thinking the same thing. Have you seen European men in a bathing suit on the beaches? Eww!


On that note isn't a body in the water a body in the water? Wouldn't the cooties go into the water no matter what they wore? The Muslim women are perfectly capable of showering before they enter the water too. Shower with the swimsuit on if they must as if they were in a normal swimsuit and then enter the water. I don't really see the issue. This isn't troubling to me. Women wore suits similar to those early in the last century here. It was only because of more liberal views of women's clothing, less modesty, and fashion changes that they transformed to what they are today. This is one thing where I don't see the issue quite honestly. Seems like a reasonable alternative. I suppose they could push for certain fabrics to be used in the pool, but other then that don't see the issue.

[Celtic Rose]

I don't think their arguments hold water(the french). Say what you will about Muslims, but some of the comments from the french in there really are bigoted and I do believe that is what really fuels their opinion on this. Think we have to be careful of letting our distaste for ths particular religion given recent events overshadow the bigoted nature of the French. They are very very secular biased so I'm suspicious of any of their rulings on religious items to be quite honest. That said, Muslims have willingly chosen to live in a very secular and religious biased community like France then they have no reason to complain about the anti-religion bias that the French have. It's funny though to watch a bunch of rabid anti-religious zealots go up against a bunch of Islamic fundamentalists. 
I would like to see how DU handles this story. The fits they must have between defending what they see as enemies of the US(their favorite cause to defend) and the very secular euro French lefties who support the bans. The mind reels with humor. 

I'm with you jty.  I don't see how a loose bathing suit automatically becomes less hygienic.  Men, consider that under this law, you would be required to wear speedos, as trunks would be too unhygienic, my favorite bathing suit, which has a very short little skirt around the bottom could very well be banned as well.. 

[Daisy]

I don't know. Is any other religion pushing their practices on the general public????

[jtyangel]

I don't know. Is any other religion pushing their practices on the general public????

No, but the French certainly are pushing their very secular and immodest values on the rest of the general public don't you think? Forget religion for a second, if a man is not comfortable in a speedo then he too is not welcome at this pool. As CR said this could include women's suits with a fringe of a skirt. As I said, it's important to see beyond one's distaste for Islam's image in recent years and ask if the French are unreasonable and bigoted towards anything they see as religious inspired or modest. Their quotes certainly weren't all about public health concerns and even those concerns seem a bit sketchy.

Now even though I do think the French are being ninnies, I also believe that Muslims have chosen to live in a very secular society in France and by doing so have agreed to live by their cultural standards at swimming holes. It's the same here if a European were to live in the states and would be required to go with their tops on rather then off. If France allows discrimination in their public policy then the only solution would be for Muslims to open their own private bathing spots to facilitate their practices and norms.

Just because it's Islam doesn't mean the French aren't bigots. These are the same people who banned big crosses as a public display as well remember.

[thundley4]

I wore a Speedo once.  Children cried, my dog went blind and my wife laughed. 

[Daisy]

"I was anti-Obama when anti-Obama wasn't cool." I like that. Most of us were because his shocking negatives were right there for all to see.

Someone a lot smarter than me needs to explain why he was so wildly loved...and elected.

[Chris_]

I wore a Speedo once.  Children cried, my dog went blind and my wife laughed. 

Psssst, you're not supposed to pull 'em down over your head.   

 



 

[jtyangel]

I wore a Speedo once.  Children cried, my dog went blind and my wife laughed. 

At least you know Excel

[Airwolf]

I see burning cars in the future of France!

You say that like its a bad thing . I mean really, its French made cars going up in smoke after all.