Toulouse. Women bathe in burkinis at the pool: “Provocation”, tackle Jean-Luc Moudenc
By Thibaut Calatayud
Published on
After Grenoble (Isere)the burkini controversy is exported to Toulouse. In recent days, women wearing this bathing suit, which allows Muslim women to bathe in accordance with Islamic modesty, have been seen at the Alfred Nakache municipal swimming pool, report The Dispatch. The town hall estimates that “about ten” the number of women concerned. Whatever the number, the problem remains the same: this type of swimsuit is prohibited in the City’s swimming pools.
What does the regulation say?
The town hall of Toulouse reminds that, according to the internal regulations of the municipal swimming pools of the Pink City, only the following outfits are authorized:
- For women: traditional one or two-piece swimsuit.
- For men: traditional swim briefs, specific to the practice of swimming.
- Regulatory swimming cap.
“A lycra bathing t-shirt only, specific to the practice of swimming, is authorized on medical prescription”, specifies the municipality.
Hygiene and safety incompatible with the burkini?
To justify this ban, the town hall argues hygiene. “The more covering the clothing, the more it transports organic matter polluting the water and thus allows chloramines, then, by degassing, trichloramines into the air. Chloramines are detrimental to the health, not only of bathers, but also of lifeguards (exposure to chloramines is recognized as an occupational disease), and we wish, in fact, to protect swimming pool users as much as possible”.
Second argument: the security. “A person wearing a covering outfit will be more difficult to revive than a person in a simple swimsuit. It will take, in addition to the time needed to fetch her from the bottom of the water, cut or tear off her clothes, which then hinders optimal rescue, ”explains the municipality.
“The applicable regulations are not those aborted in Grenoble”
Asked about this subject on the sidelines of the Toulouse Métropole council, Thursday June 23, 2022, Jean-Luc Moudenc, the mayor (LR) of the Pink City, explained that “a few ladies had escaped the security device”. Once surprised, according to the elected official, these bathers were ordered to leave the premises by the agents of the town hall.
“There was a lot of media retention after the Grenoble affair. Some are visibly provocative,” tackles the city councilor, who promises to “not weaken” on this subject.
“The applicable regulation is not that aborted in Grenoble and sanctioned by justice”.
As a reminder, Eric Piolle, the mayor (EELV) of Grenoble, had authorized the wearing of the burkini in municipal swimming pools. After a politico-legal soap opera, the Council of State decided to ban the wearing of this jersey, Tuesday, June 21.
The Capitol tenant warned that this zero tolerance would also apply to the Ramee Lake.
With GL
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