Two Muslim women were ordered out of a swimming pool at the Rives des Corbieres holiday camp in Port Leucate, southern France, because they were wearing ‘burkinis’. The incident came ten days after French MPs voted to outlaw the burka in public places.
The women were asked to either change into conventional bikinis or one-piece costumes or leave the swimming pool. Police were then called to the drama after the husband of one of the women threatened the pool’s lifeguard with a bowling ball.
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. The Lost Angeles Times reports a rise in discrimination of Muslims across France.
