Men-only Muslim swimming pools are an insult to a United Kingdom built on equality
After 50 years of feminism, why should men and women be segregated because of a minority’s religious beliefs?
THE invitation to have fun in the taxpayer-funded, Olympic–sized swimming pool could hardly sound more welcoming.
“Kids, adults, beginners and pros all welcome,” says the poster for Friday night swimming sessions at the Inspire Sports Village in Luton.
But not everyone is welcome in the water.
Because women are not welcome.
And girls are not welcome.
And females of every age are forbidden to enter the beautiful pool — made famous in Tom Daley’s game show, Splash! — during those prime time Friday-night slots when the water is for the exclusive use of men and boys.
The Inspire Sports Village has introduced men-only swimming sessions to put a smile on the face of Luton’s growing Muslim population. And Luton has a large Muslim population.
The most recent census in 2011 showed that a quarter of Luton’s 196,173 population was Muslim, up 25 per cent in ten years.
“There is a large demand for it,” says Abdul-Wadud Ahmed, 31, the gentleman who came up with the idea. “One of the reasons being that swimming is a prophetic activity where Mohammed, peace be upon Him, encourages Muslim men and women to swim.
“The second point is of religious reasons where there is sensitivity around men and women mixing and exposing of each other’s bodies. My phone has been going off the hook with people asking about it and we haven’t had any negative feedback from anyone.”
Perhaps he should talk to a few more people.
There may be a demand among Luton’s Muslims for men-only swimming but what about everybody else? Does their opinion matter?
There is plenty of evidence that Luton’s non-Muslim population finds the concept of men-only bathing completely and totally alien to everything this country believes in.
“I can’t believe this is allowed to happen,” said a young mother called Mandy. “The pool was built and is run by taxpayers’ money. It’s completely segregating and sends out the wrong message to children.”
When the men are having their segregated dip, women are obliged to use a smaller, inferior swimming pool that is less than half the size of the Olympic pool.
“It (segregation) has never been needed for hundreds of years,” said a father called Mark. “I don’t know why it is needed now.”
Because this country bends over backwards to accommodate its immigrant population.
This open-hearted generosity has now reached the absurd point where our tolerance extends to the intolerance of others.
Say it loud — segregated swimming pools have no place in modern Britain.
After 50 years of feminism and a century since the Suffragettes, it is grotesque that men and women are being segregated in 21st Century Britain because of a minority’s religious beliefs.
Men and women are equal in Britain. Separating the sexes is not simply alien to our society, it is repulsive — importing a medieval mindset of separation and subservience into the heart of a nation that is built on equality.
In our country everyone is free to worship how they wish, believe what they choose to believe and wear what they want — no matter how stupid it may look.
This remains the most tolerant nation on the planet.
But if you want to keep your local swimming pool uncontaminated by females, then why not go and live in a Muslim country?
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