May 3, 2012 In the presidential debate on May 3rd (prior to the final election of May 6, 2012) Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to take similar positions when it came to special treatment for France’s large Muslim community. Hollande said he would not allow separate menus in public cafeterias or separate hours in…
15 November 2011 The ruling Liberal Party (VVD) of the Netherlands has requested that its home affairs minister stop granting funds to initiatives which ‘get in the way of integration’, such as organizations which offer separate swimming lessons for women. Single-sex activities, organizations which “oppose homosexual rights” or whose “activities conflict with democracy” should no…
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…
A group of women in Amsterdam are seeking a women-only swimming session at an Amsterdam pool, Telegraaf reports. The women wear burkinis to swim but do not want their hands and feet to be visible should men be present. Local councillor Egbert de Vries argued that the pool already has a one-hour naked swimming session…
The Islam Democrats (ID) party, which has held a seat on the Hague municipal council since 2006, has denounced the municipality’s decision to cancel gender segregated swimming used mostly by Muslim women. City officials made the decision on the basis that men and women should meet while exercising, while supporters of the separate swimming have…
