Burkinis to help Muslim Swedes take the plunge
Published: 6 Mar 13 09:45 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/46566/20130306/
The small Swedish town of Emmaboda has vetoed a petition to introduce women-only hours at the municipal swimming pool, and instead wants to start selling burkinis to its observant Muslim female bathers.
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The local politicians, however, decided to decline the petition, reports regional newspaper Östran.
Instead, they want to buy in burkinis - swimsuits that cover all parts of a woman's body - which their observant Muslim swimmers could buy before taking the plunge.
"Women can then go swimming but still be covered," the committee's minutes read.
The municipality's executive committee will now look at the proposal, reported Östran.
Different attitudes to nudity – from the ultra-conservative to the extremely liberal –have posed problems for swimming pool managers in Sweden before.
READ ALSO: 'Swedish bathers in naked shower outcry'
In 2011, bathers in Skärholmen, southern Stockholm, said certain bathers' reluctance to show themselves naked meant they did not shower before entering the pool, in breach of hygiene regulations at most Swedish pools.
At the other end of the scale, a feminist network called 'Bara Bröst' has campaigned for women to be allowed to swim topless in Sweden's public pools. They argue that the requirement for women - but not men - to cover their chests is sexist.
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That's my kind of equality... way to go sis...
I sure hope there's more to this story.
A public pool available to the public at all times - no segregation.
Segregation is a dangerous path - men, women, muslim men, muslim women, druids, gays, gay men, gay women...... I guess many groups would like to have exclusive times.
Are you saying that the burkinis solution is not acceptable to some muslim women ?
If we're obliged to obey their rules and traditions while in muslims countries, if anyone ever goes there anyway, then they should adapt to the Swedish society.
Sweden is one of the most liberal, forward thinking and innovative country in the world. We are where we are because of our way of thinking. There's nothing wrong with nudity and sex - we are all made out of nudity and sex. We should rejoice and embrace it, not obey to some medieval religious rules. If they want their women not to be seen by anyone, then they should lock them inside or move back to their country of origin.
I absolutely agree that a public pool should be available to everyone, but know of no obligation that it be available to all people at all times.
Excluding a group because of their religious beliefs sounds like discrimination.
My understanding of this faith is that modesty (which is not limited to revealing skin) is critical. My guess is that wearing clothing which, when wet, would be clingy may not meet this groups needs.
Equality does not mean "sameness;" that's easy. True equals respectfully appreciate and accommodate differences.
Again, I hope there's more to this story.
wrote ' My guess is....'
so basically you are inventing a scenario for which there is no evidence - or just causing trouble.
As far as we know no muslims have objected to the burkini and no muslims have been prevented from using a public swimming pool by law - opting not to use a public facility is hardly discrimination.
Is it discriminatory not have 'eye' days in shopping centres when women can only expose their eyes and hands ?
How would you police a muslim only swimming session, a religious test by an onsite imman (Shia or Sunni), measurement of exposed area as a fraction of total body surface. Which parts of women's bodies are particularly likely to cause offence.
The burkini is decent attempt to accommodate a few muslims, a solution which you try to make into a problem.
Perhaps my conversations have been with folks who express their faith in more conservative ways? But since people in this town requested special time to use the pool, one might reasonably conclude that they had also rejected burkinis.
What struck me in the article is the town's decision making process and it's possible consequences. (Please note my original post, wondering if I was understanding the facts correctly.)
When use of a public pool demands compromising one's faith, avoidance is not necessarily optional. That's rather like the shopkeeper who protests that a wheelchair ramp is unnecessary because people with disabilities don't enter his shop.
People often complain that an accommodation might set a precedent or be difficult to enforce. In my humble opinion, any community that genuinely can't figure out how to provide equal access in an amiable, cooperative way has much bigger problems.
Once again... I'm guessing (hoping!) that there's much more to this story, that reason prevails, and the parties involved work equitably to find a mutually satisfactory solution.
After the 'dedicated hours for muslim women' then the cafeteria will be asked to withdraw the sale of ham sandwiches and the restaurant close to the pool must stop selling wine.
The insiduous requests then turn to demands all hidden behind the veil (excuse the pun) of religious intolerance.
The whole of Europe is retreating to this onslaught.
A line should be drawn in the sand and it must be soon ...
Then you don't have to worry about old swedish perverts staring at your kids or shuttlecocks who swim in their underwear.