Bruce, Wow, of all things on my list of "Things I don't Give A Fuck About" what people wear in swimming pools in the fuckin' UK has to be close to the top.
On Aug 16, 6:39 am, Bruce Majors <[email protected]> wrote: > Swimmers are told to wear burkinis British swimming pools are imposing > Muslim dress codes in a move described as divisive by Labour MPs. > > By Patrick Sawer > Published: 9:00PM BST 15 Aug 2009 > [image: Muslim convert Carole who was banned from using a swimming pool in > France for wearing a 'burkini'] UK councils running restricted swimming > session for Muslims > > Under the rules, swimmers – including non-Muslims – are barred from entering > the pool in normal swimming attire. > > Instead they are told that they must comply with the "modest" code of dress > required by Islamic custom, with women covered from the neck to the ankles > and men, who swim separately, covered from the navel to the knees. > > Related Articles > > - French ban Muslim woman from wearing > 'burkini'<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6017524/Frenc...> > - Muslim NHS dentist 'tried to force patients to wear traditional Islamic > > dress'<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5718982/Muslim-NH...> > > The phenomenon runs counter to developments in France, where last week a > woman was evicted from a public pool for wearing a burkini – the headscarf, > tunic and trouser outfit which allows Muslim women to preserve their modesty > in the water. > > The 35-year-old, named only as Carole, is threatening legal action after she > was told by pool officials in Emerainville, east of Paris, that she could > not wear the outfit on hygiene grounds. > > But across the UK municipal pools are holding swimming sessions specifically > aimed at Muslims, in some case imposing strict dress codes. > > Croydon council in south London runs separate one-and-a half-hour swimming > sessions for Muslim men and women every Saturday and Sunday at Thornton > Heath Leisure Centre. > > Swimmers were told last week on the centre's website that "during special > Muslim sessions male costumes must cover the body from the navel to the knee > and females must be covered from the neck to the ankles and wrists". > > There are similar rules at Scunthorpe Leisure Centre, in North Lincolnshire, > where "users must follow the required dress code for this session (T-shirts > and shorts/leggings that cover below the knee)". > > In Glasgow, a men-only swimming session is organised by a local mosque group > at North Woodside Leisure Centre, at which swimmers must be covered from > navel to knee. > > At a women-only class organised by a Muslim teacher at Blackbird Leys > Swimming Pool, Oxford, to encourage Muslim women to learn to swim, most > participants wear "modest" outfits although normal costumes are permitted. > > The dress codes have provoked an angry reaction among critics who say they > encourage division and resentment between Muslims and non-Muslims, putting > strain on social cohesion. > > Ian Cawsey, the Labour MP for the North Lincolnshire constituency of Brigg > and Goole, said: "Of course swimming pools have basic codes of dress but it > should not go beyond that. > > "I don't think that in a local authority pool I should have to wear a > particular type of clothes for the benefit of someone else. That's not > integration or cohesion." > > Labour MP Anne Cryer, whose Keighley, West Yorkshire constituency has a > large number of Muslims, said: "Unfortunately this kind of thing has a > negative impact on community relations. > > "It's seen as yet another demand for special treatment. I can't see why > special clothing is needed for what is a single-sex session." > > Muslim swimming sessions are also held at a number of state schools around > the country. At Loxford School in Ilford, east London, a local Muslim group > organises weekly sessions for Muslim men, with the warning that "it is > compulsory for the body to be covered between the navel and the knees. > > "Anyone not adhering to the dress code or rules within the pool will not be > allowed to swim". > > The practice of holding special Muslim swimming sessions has led to > non-Muslims being turned away. > > David Toube, 39 and his five year old son Harry were last year refused entry > to Clissold Leisure Centre, in Hackney, east London, after being told the > Sunday morning swimming session was for Muslim men only. > > Council officials later said staff had made a mistake and both Mr Toube, a > corporate lawyer, and his son should have been admitted. > > After discovering the rules at Thornton Heath one Croydon resident, > 34-year-old Alex Craig, said: "I think it is preposterous that a council > should be encouraging this type of segregation over municipal facilities. > > "Surely if Muslims want to swim then they should just turn up with their > modest swimwear at the same time as everyone else." > > Douglas Murray, director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, last night > condemned the practice. He said: "This kind of thing is extremely divisive. > > "Non-Muslims see these extremist demands as an example of Muslims wanting > things to fit into their lifestyle, when there aren't similar things > organised for Hindus, Buddhists or Jews. > > "It also puts moderate Muslims in an awkward position as it suggests, > wrongly, that they are not devout enough, simply because they choose not to > cover themselves in a shroud in a pool." > > A press officer at Croydon council, which introduced Muslim-only swimming in > 2006, claimed that the wording on the website was a mistake and the dress > code should be regarded as a suggestion rather than a requirement. > > The website was late changed to remove the reference to the dress code. > > However, an official at the leisure centre said the dress code remained > compulsory. > > Earlier, defending the segregation policy, a Croydon council spokesman said: > "We appreciate that certain religious groups, such as Muslims, have strict > rules on segregation for activities including sports, so in response to > requests from the local community, we have been running these sessions at > Thornton Heath Leisure Centre." > > http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6034706/Swimmers-... > > __._,_.___ > Messages in this topic > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/message/33053;_ylc=X3oDM...>( > 1) Reply (via web post) > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJybDFxY2...>| > Start > a new topic > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZjNyZn...> > Messages<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZT...>| > Files<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJnOWQ2Y...>| > Photos<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNnEy...>| > Links<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJnMnNld...>| > Database<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJkcm...>| > Polls<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJnazhlb...> > "Dissension is the progenitor of democracy!" > MARKETPLACE > Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their families, > for the world and for each > other<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14kfrpoll/M=493064.12016295.13271503.1083...> > [image: Yahoo! > Groups]<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMTc1anBxBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycEl...> > Change settings via the > Web<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJnN3M3cX...>(Yahoo! > ID required) > Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily > Digest<[email protected]?subject=email+delivery:+Digest>| > Switch > format to > Traditional<[email protected]?subject=change+delivery+format:+Traditional> > Visit Your Group > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand;_ylc=X3oDMTJldmhyZHFhBF9...>| > Yahoo! > Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe > <[email protected]?subject=> > Recent Activity > > - 1 > New > Members<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJnY2d...> > > Visit Your Group > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4UnitedWeStand;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcDUzaHZ1BF9...> > Group Charity > > Citizen > Schools<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14htt3hl0/M=737447.13475021.13554044.8674...> > ... > > read more » > > burqini460_1461189c.jpg > 35KViewDownload --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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