Fighting Discrimination with Discrimination: France and the "Burkini"

What is it about public facilities that bring out the worst in humanity? Slightly over half a century ago it was permissible to separate bathrooms, drinking fountains and other public facilities by race, and it seems that sort of strange ‘facilities discrimination’ just won’t go away. Unfortunately, these past few months have shown that there’s a long way to go. Barely over a month after the unfortunate incident in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania where black and Latino day campers were forcibly removed from a gated community’s swimming pool, another incident occurred at the ol’ public swimming hole. This time it involved the French and a Muslim woman. According to the BBC, the woman was refused entry to a public pool for wearing a “swimming burka” or what’s been dubbed a “burkini.” The garment is waterproof and resembles a loose fitting wetsuit with a hood to cover the woman’s hair. Muslim women claim that the burkini allows them to go swimming and still maintain the dress code that their faith enforces.  However, the French swimming pool denied this woman entry because it allegedly went against their regulation on health and dress code. In contrast to the United States, France's rules for what is allowed to be worn at a pool is stricter, requiring close fitting suits and swimming caps to prevent the spread of disease. The argument goes that this woman wasn’t denied due to discrimination--she wasn’t following the rules and dress code. Upon being denied entry, the woman claimed she was being discriminated against. Unfortunately, this story shows just how dirty both sides can get when the discrimination card is played. In 2004 the French government banned head-scarves, Jewish yarmulkes, large crucifixes and other religious symbols that were worn in state public schools; this created an uproar amongst French Muslims, who make up approximately 5 million people of the population. Whether it intended to or not, the French government politicized religion with French Nationalism clamoring for secularism along with a substantial minority that felt unfairly targeted. And now it hits the swimming pools. This argument is getting ugly. The Muslim woman was quoted to saying “simply, this is segregation…I will fight to try to change things, and if I see that the battle is lost, I will not rule out leaving France.” She is also threatening legal action. The media spectacle only got worse when the French government adamantly supported the decision, with high government officials including President Nicolas Sarkozy speaking out against the burka. In June, the French National Assembly actually created a six-month fact finding mission to look at ways at restricting burka use. In the end, this argument isn’t about proper swimming attire so much as it is about Islam’s impact on secular France (and vice versa). Rather than viewing diversity and ethnic variance in French society as positive social evolution, groups are being formed and lines are being drawn--and then the government gets  involved. While the Muslim woman does have the right to religious expression, her call of discrimination and segregation has less to do with the right to go swimming so much as it does social and economic separation. While the French government does have the right to enforce dress codes to maintain a healthy environment, its lack of compassion and overt hostility does little to ease the tensions between its various political and religious groups.

 

Seriously, what the hell!? Where is the voice in moderation in all this? What might have began as a simple misunderstanding that could have been corrected with moderate discussion and compromise has escalated to potential legal battles, involvement of national leaders, and inflamed tempers on all sides. Is it really responsible for the Muslim woman to turn to the media as her first step, and likewise, is it really responsible for the local governmental officials to make claims on whether or not the burkini is truly “an Islamic swimsuit” and stating that “that type of suit does not exist in the Koran?” Sadly, this argument over the “burkini” is extending to other countries as well. In England, municipal pools are now requiring strict dress codes that include the burkini, whether a person wants to wear it or not. The pools there are also allowing for ‘special Muslim sessions’ where only Muslims are allowed to swim using their specially designed swimming costumes. During these sessions, non-Muslims are also turned away. Geez, why not require them to wear a yellow Star of David on their clothing at all times too!? This really needs to stop. Both sides need to be willing to work towards a compromise that allows for integration of ALL faiths and dress styles into public facilities that still maintains health and safety. Having the government legislate separate facilities for different religious groups is playing with fire. While the United States isn’t necessarily the shining example for religious and racial integration, at least it has practical knowledge with the broken mentality of “separate, but equal.” It also has 50+ years of experience in actively and candidly attempting to bring people together and being open to the needs of multiple racial and religious groups. While the example in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania still shows we have work to do, the Europeans simply need to cool their heels and examine what they are advocating for their societies.