Port Leucate: Two Muslim women in southern France were ordered out of a swimming pool because they were wearing ‘burkinis’. The women who were holidaying at the Rives des Corbieres camp in Port Leucate, were told the rules stated only swimming costumes may be worn in the water. Both women were asked to either change into conventional bikinis or one-piece costumes or leave the swimming pool.
‘Burkinis’ are the water wearing garments that covered their entire bodies, including veils over the woman heads.
The incident came ten days after French MPs voted to outlaw the burka in public places. The new French law, which says the garment ‘an insult to the country’s values’, means women will be fined or jailed for hiding their faces in public. Last year a Muslim woman was banned from wearing a burkini at a public swimming pool also for hygiene reasons.
She later failed in her bid to sue the council in the Paris suburb for discrimination. Police have this year also stopped and fined two women for wearing a burka while driving because the garb impaired their field of vision.
Bureau Report