France

No burkinis allowed in Paris pool

Article published on the 2009-08-12 Latest update 2009-08-13 09:53 TU

A Muslim woman wearing a head-to-toe swimsuit has been denied access to a public swimming pool in a town south-east of Paris, French officials said Wednesday.

Religious Muslim swimwear, the burqini
(Photo: www.ahiida.com)

Emerainville Mayor Alain Kelyor said the 35-year-old woman was not allowed to swim in the pool wearing a so-called "burkini" covering her body from head to toe.

Officials say the outfit is unhygienic and potentially harmful to other swimmers.

The woman, a convert to Islam, has complained to police that the ban is discriminatory.

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

But burkini manufacturers claim that the banned costume was not really one of their products.

"The lady that was asked to leave from the pool was not a Burqini/Burkini," writes Aheda Zanetti of the Ahiida company which produces Burkinis. "It was just a modest swimsuit that was produced in Dubai. Burqini swimwear are only produced in Australia which is two-piece swimsuit."