In recent years, the all-in-one swimsuit used by some Muslim women to cover their bodies and hair while bathing has become a hot topic during the holiday season.
Digital Desk: The French city of Grenoble on Monday allowed the wearing of “burkinis” by Muslim women in government swimming pools, igniting one of France’s most contentious religious clothing battles.
In recent years, the all-in-one swimsuit used by some Muslim women to cover their bodies and hair while bathing has become a hot topic during the holiday season.
It may be mentioned that many right-wingers and feminists want to ban it, seeing it as a symbol of rising Islamism and an affront to France’s secular traditions outright.
It’s forbidden at most state-run pools, where severe swimwear restrictions apply to everyone, including the need that males to wear tight-fitting tights.
According to reports, men will be permitted to wear long shorts and women will be able to take a topless dip in the alpine city pool due to the change.
The idea has been supported by Grenoble’s mayor, Eric Piol, one of the country’s most visible Green politicians who lead a broad left-wing coalition in the municipal council, but it has been met with intense criticism.
Despite not having the support of his own EELV party, which has distanced itself from the bill, he managed to get enough votes at a municipal council meeting to pass it.
After a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour debate, it was passed by the slimmest of margins, with 29 votes in favour, 27 opposed, and 2 votes against.
Notably, Grenoble is not the first city to amend its policies. Earlier, in France’s northwest, Rennes changed its pool code in 2019 to allow burkinis and other types of swimwear.
It is to be noted that the burkini discussion comes as French Muslim women’s football players fight to overturn a restriction on religious symbols being worn during competitive matches.
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