Swedish Court Awards Damages To Muslim Women In Clothing Dispute
It was a case of wearing too much, not too little that got a couple of Muslim women in trouble with authorities in Goteborg, Sweden.But now it's Sweden's second-largest city that finds itself caught with its pants down in the dispute over what constitutes appropriate clothing at a public swimming pool.
The women - dressed in head scarves, sweatpants and long-sleeved T-shirts - accompanied their children to the public pool on two separate occasions in April 2004.
They were asked to leave after refusing requests by lifeguards to change into something lighter. The lifeguards said their clothing did not comply with the pool's safety and hygiene regulations.
The Court of Appeal in Western Sweden disagreed. In overturning a lower court ruling Tuesday, the appeal court ordered the city to pay the women the equivalent of $3,100 each for discriminating against them "in a way that is linked to their religion."
It also said they had been exposed "to treatment that leads to discomfort," and that being asked to change to lighter bathing gear could "generally be experienced as alienating." (The Sudbury Star)
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Labels: Discrimination., Legal Matters., Religion., Unfair
posted by The Malaysian. at 2/02/2008 08:53:00 PM
5 Comments:
Presumably the City has to pay the plaintiffs the damages.
Who is going to pay the City for extra cleaning required for the swimming pool if more people go swimming with their colthes on, bringing in the dust, grime and dirt from the outside world ?
Or do they charge more entrance fees? But seeing that it is in Sweden, I suspect that taxpayers are going to have to pay for the extra cleaning required to maintain the level of hygiene required by ... ironically, the Swedish health authorities.
Ever seen Punjabis swimming with their turbans on or Afghans swimming in their burqas?
I can tell you personally, i do not even like to see clothes like shorts & t's in the pool(let alone the other "gears"...sorry but sort of feel a bit geli (disgusted) but if anyone does that to an open sea or beach...i got no problem.
I do not see it as being insensitive to religion or culture but i think if anyone decided to jump into pools...at least follow the dress code...otherwise keep your clothes on and watch what you are missing. Better still build your own pool and wear what you as you please and do not drag RELIGION all over the place! I got a good suggestion - tell them to buy a scuba outfit and wear a swimcap to avoid controversy!
Muslims cheers in the suffering of others
maybe they need a separate swimming pool for the people who want to swim with clothes on.
Then all those not comfortable with their bodies regardless of their religious beliefs can jump in.
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