Get yer own fitness center. I'm surprised none of the shiny new mega-mosques have thought of that.

... On the other hand, the Saudi donors might frown on doing anything so helpful for women, especially when they'd have to *gasp!* drive to get there!

Posted by: Shinoliite at April 22, 2006 12:29 PM

Assimilate you idiots!!

The muslims are so scared women will get turned on by hunky (and who wouldn't!) men.

Those women ought to be thankful they are in the U.S. and have freedoms to NOT have to be caged in their home and can FREELY choose to do something on their own. If she stopped to think about it, it's muslim men who don't want HER to be seen by other men.

Get a grip. This is the 21st century and for God's sake shed your chains of this backward cult. Do you women think you're still only worth half that of a muslim man? Well, let me tell you a muslim man isn't worth a plug nickel. You women have a chance to eradicate the 7th century belief that women are tilth and you have the ability to change forever the way the koran views the world.

You have a chance to become part of the world that enjoys living, singing, laughing, art, decision making, and instead your stuck back in the middle ages.

You're not in Saudi Arabia. Apparently you are westernized enough to want to exercise and tone, but yet you want to be hidden and escorted and spat upon and enslaved.

Unbelievable.

Posted by: freewoman at April 22, 2006 12:41 PM

What do they need to exercise for anyway? The woman-in-a-bag mentality precludes any need for taught abs or buns of steel.

Memo to Lifetime Fitness execs: Do as Nancy Reagan admonished...just say, "NO".

Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at April 22, 2006 12:46 PM

To Muslims, all our fitness centers are really Fitna Centers.

Posted by: Television at April 22, 2006 12:51 PM

Their Prophet Mohamed never ever advocated any exercises,or body workouts for women. Why on earth thse women DEMAND them in our countries? Accoriding to their religion,a woman's duty is to be a sex machine -ready 24 hours- for her husband,and to sire more and more chirldren like pigs do,till she becomes incapable of producing,when, her husband takes another woman as wife and starts producing. If a woman starts exercising,and have good mussles, then ,she may fightback her husband ,when he beats her. So mohammed would have definitly banned body exercise for Muslim females.
More over,That woman,Mogalli,wants to blend Amercian life styles with Muslim traditions. Take it from me,they both are two poles apart,which will never ever meet. It is like linking 21st century with 7th century.
I fail to understand howcome the Dearborn Public schools offered gender segregated workout places for boys and girls. It is like the 'tail wagging the dog'.

Posted by: sofia at April 22, 2006 12:54 PM

"As a devout Muslim, Mogalli firmly believes her religion frowns on her working out where she could see men--and men could see her--moving and dressed in a manner that might seem immodest".

Okay, what is the real goal here? This woman is trying to have her cake and eat it too. She knows her religion doesn't accept this kind of behavior. So now she's trying to tell a U.S. corporation what their policy should be? This one stinks to high heaven. It sounds like she is another one of these Islamic moles sent to dhimminize our culture and lifestyle by whining about how oppressed she is and forcing a public debate, like that chick in Florida who wanted to be veiled for her driver's license picture or the English student whose father and uncle? used her to try and force burqa wearing in the public school system under the guise of religious freedom. When the Islamic camel sticks his nose under the tent, put on your combat boots and kick the crap out of it.

Lifetime Fitness should offer her two choices: 1) have her accept the status quo and she can choose to continue her workouts, or 2) give her a complete refund and call it a day.

Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at April 22, 2006 1:16 PM

She should have joined Curves. It's women only.

Posted by: freewoman at April 22, 2006 1:23 PM

Yeah, but then she couldn't pitch her little fit and try and change the way we live.

Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at April 22, 2006 1:27 PM

True Isabella. She's just wanting to stir up trouble.

It's beyond me as to why when a muslim woman tastes freedom, she doesn't want it all. It's like chocolate. Can't just do one bite.

Posted by: freewoman at April 22, 2006 1:39 PM

If you like sharia sex-segregation, you'll love it as they restructure our financial system to comply with Islamic law. See, e.g. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/features/banking/. Charging or paying interest is evil, you see, while slave-catching and wife beating are not.

Fitness USA should just refund the money and tell 'em to scram.

Posted by: sceptico at April 22, 2006 1:51 PM

Well, Freewoman, these poor chicks are so indoctrinated and they've probably been threatened and/or beaten down so many times that they don't know which way is up. But its hard for me to feel sorry for a woman who has the wherewithal to join an upscale gym in the U.S. She probably also works outside the home too, which makes this whole thing more hypocritical than ever. Does she run every time a man walks by in her office building or when one walks by in the grocery store? Are we going to start having specific times for men to work in office buildings or for men to shop for groceries? Let's get real here. And when will the campaign for American women to stop driving begin?

Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at April 22, 2006 1:51 PM

Why would anyone in their right mind by a lifetime membership in a gym? What an idiot.

Posted by: Jerry M at April 22, 2006 1:55 PM

This is not about modesty, it is about territory, as was the case of the Luton schoolgirl who wanted to wear a jilbab (tent) in defiance of her school's uniform policy. As Boris Johnson, peace be upon his strawberry-blond mop, put it:

This ludicrous and lamentable case had nothing to do with "modesty". I don't believe she wore the jilbab to "regain control of her body" any more than I could hope to wear a smarter suit and thereby regain control of my own...

They weren't doing it for Shabina; they weren't doing it for the other female pupils; they were doing it to show that they could, and to take another yard of territory in the kulturkampf of modern Britain.

Posted by: Interested at April 22, 2006 2:02 PM

C'mon, guys.

They're not asking for Muslim women only days, just gender segregated days. Lots of women would prefer to work out without men being present.

Everyone has probably heard at least one story of outrageous claims and promises by commercial fitness centers to potential clients that are not ultimately put in writing.

Maybe the women really were buffaloed.

But when they ask for Muslim women only days at public places, such as swimming pools, then I'm outraged. Two examples are the Muslim Sister Swim times at one Seattle pool and at least one, with the same name, in Australia.

Posted by: PRCS at April 22, 2006 2:22 PM

To start from the beginning, where did this woman get the money to join? Did she earn it? If she did, then she has freedom to work. Did she go to the gym alone? If so, she has freedom to leave the dungeon. How did she get there? If she drove, she has freedom to drive. Did she go in in a burka? If not, she has freedom to dress.

This is what I was getting at. If she answers yes to these questions, she has tasted freedom and to want to go back to living in a sh#thole, she needs to go back to the M.E.

I'm sure there is a muslim man behind her request. And yes, it's hypocritical of her to make this request and hypocritical of muslims to request anything that perpetuates their backwardness.

Posted by: freewoman at April 22, 2006 2:25 PM

I saw a photo of muslims swimming in the dead sea and the women were swimming in burkas.

I would drown wearing one.

Posted by: freewoman at April 22, 2006 2:27 PM

hmmm. Orthodox Jews segregate women from men when swimming. How is that different? I certainly wouldn't begrudge a health club in an orthodox Jewish neighborhood in America having segregated areas or days for men and women, if that's what it takes to get business.

Posted by: kamala at April 22, 2006 2:48 PM

The difference with the modesty requirments of orthodox Jews, very traditional nuns etc is that the modesty is genuine and sincere. Their beliefs are not predicated on a man whose modesty was such that he took a 9 year old wife, that he took his daughter in law as wife and cast our his adopted son so to do, or murdered men so he could have their widows, and gave the 9 year old wife the particular job around the house of washing the semen stains off is clothing.
Their beliefs do not require them to lie and deceive in order to achieve world domination. I can respect them.

Posted by: Granny Weatherwax at April 22, 2006 3:13 PM

They're not asking for Muslim only days.

Just women only days.

There's a difference.

Posted by: PRCS at April 22, 2006 3:25 PM

Are they afraid the men will turn them on or that the men will not be excited when they see what is under the potato sacks? American men wear tight t-shirts, muscle shirts and shorts all the time. That could be an indicator they are more afraid they can’t measure up against a scantily clad All-American female hard body. Remember it takes four of them to please one muslim male. I say pity them, build them someplace they can hide and be done with it. The muslim women here in Tampa cover their hair but not the face I for one would be more than happy if they would cover them also. I’m not trying to be hurtful here, I am just saying they might have a valid reason to want the separation.

Posted by: Ronin at April 22, 2006 3:45 PM

I don't object to the Muslim women complaining to the owners about this. There are women's only gyms elsewhere for reasons that have nothing to do with Islam. The Muslim women certainly have a right to talk to the owners just as any other individual or group can complain.

I think the public school officials shouldn't give in to the Muslims on this issue. But Fitness American is a private business. If separate days is what their customers wanted, then you can't call it dhimnitude.

Posted by: DavidE at April 22, 2006 4:56 PM

If a commercially operated fitnes center were to be foolish enough to set up a Muslim only day, or a Muslim women only day, they would likely be within their rights to do so.

But, when such requests are made of, or demanded from, public facilities such as public swimming pools (Seattle, as an example), especially when public monies are involved (which they are in Seattle), then the line has been crossed.

Private operations vs public operations.

Here's are three links to the Seattle Muslim Sister Swim time situation.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/007681.php

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002389078_muslimswim.html

http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/004929.html

Posted by: PRCS at April 22, 2006 4:56 PM

Because it is a private business and apparently this issue was raised for and by muslims, the owner can refuse or grant the request. To me it is a math exercise, how many customers will I gain and how many will I lose. I would think appeasing one segment of the customer base would lead to a costly drop in revenue. So how about the faithful follower of old mo buy a thigh master and shut the …..up. I also agree with PRCS when it crosses the line between private and public monies we should all take notice and fight it. Maybe we should make a few phone calls and start a letter writing campaign.

Posted by: Ronin at April 22, 2006 5:12 PM

What the hell does anyone want stronger Muslims for?

Let them exercise by rotating around the Ka'aba in Mecca.

Out of the West!

They don't fit, however "fit" they get.

Out!

Exercise those legs boarding flights to Saudi Arabia!

Enough of this Sharia-dhimmi nonsense.

They despise us, they hate our world, they're out to undermine our culture and destroy our civilization.

These types of incursions are just little termite holes bored into the weakening framework of the free world.

ENOUGH!

Posted by: profitsbeard at April 22, 2006 6:13 PM

Yes, indeed ! E N O U G H ! ! !

Posted by: cosmicAvenger at April 22, 2006 6:48 PM

I can only assume that these muslim women don't want muslim men to see them and judge them 'un-islamic.'

I have a hard time beliving that Western men find muslim women attractive. The burka/hijab/abaya/potato sack reeks of a repressive attitude that doesn't befit a woman who would be great in the sack.

I've asked a few guys what they think when they see a muslim woman and "Oh, yeah, I want to jump her bones" never enters their minds.

Posted by: 3812Michelle at April 22, 2006 8:47 PM

I am so sick of this crap. Give them an inch and they'l take a mile. This is nothing less than encrochment, little by little so no one notices. Korans having to be on the top shelf at Borders;special prayer rooms at ballgames. Special treatment in the workplaces. For crying out loud this borders on the ridiculous and it won't stop there, in fact it won't stop period unless we as a people say we've had enough. They have their own mosques,food stores,clothing stores, why don't they build their own gyms instead of trying to get us to conform to their ways. Somebody do something, please.

Posted by: dms at April 22, 2006 9:01 PM

"Let them exercise by rotating around the Ka'aba in Mecca."

That should be sufficient exercise for them.

Posted by: abad at April 22, 2006 11:46 PM

Why don't Muslim women join "Curves"? Since "Curves" gyms are for women only there should be no problem. Or better yet why don't Muslims spend the money they are spending on the global jihad on their own gyms.Muslims always have to infringe on the rights of others with their phony modesty.I say phony modesty because some of these same Muslim women have been known to carry weapons and explosives under their robes.

If there is nothing in the written contract about the women only days but there was an oral agreement of some kind. The gym owner should release the Muslims from the remainder of their contract or pro-rate the rest of the benefit.The gym owner would then operate his business in the way he see's fit and could get rid of the Muslims.

Posted by: Roxane at April 22, 2006 11:46 PM

Were I the owner of the health club, I would make a deal with these Muslim women: I will let you have women only days or sexually segregated workouts on the same day that Saudi Arabia allows Christian women to wear crosses or Jewish women to wear Stars of David in public as well as letting us worship freely in Arabia.

"When the Saudis treat us equally and accommodate our religions, we will accommodate yours."

Posted by: Provoslavni at April 23, 2006 12:35 AM

Kamala

Orthodox Jews have never been able to get non Jews, or non Orthodox Jews to comply with their rules.

Their Sex Segregation happens on their own private property.

If Muslims insist on Sex Segregated Gyms then they should likewise build their own gyms, and benefit from the Private Property Laws, otherwise they should keep their backwardsness to themselves.

Besides in this case the women in question knew that they were going into a mixed Gym (As in a Gym that doesn't believe in Aparthied), and had the option of non mixed.

David

These women are demanding segregation based on Islam, not on "reasons that have nothing to do with Islam" just read the article.
In this case these Fanatics don't have any chance of winning. The number of people who want mixed gyms vs people who want segregated is in favor of the former everywere.

Posted by: NicephorusPhocas at April 23, 2006 12:38 AM

I think they're being completely & arrogantly unreasonable.

The article says the gym "decided this month to open up part of the center to both sexes every day"

They still have part of the gym to suit their needs. I imagine the gym decided it was not financially viable to close off the entire facility to men, so it is trying to please everyone. It is a business, afterall. So what's their option? Appease these Muslim women and perhaps go out of business? Do these women think that the men in the other part of the gym would waste their time peeping at them?

Posted by: feralee at April 23, 2006 1:53 AM

When Arrwa Mogalli agreed to plunk down $1,465 for a lifetime membership with the Fitness USA chain of gyms, she did so after being promised that its Lincoln Park facility would be open only to women on certain days.

Did Fitness USA make that promise or not? If the organization made that promise, was it in the contract?

So far, about 200 Muslim women with Fitness USA memberships have signed a petition asking the chain to return to gender-specific days for the entire gym or to put up a divider...

There are plenty of things to confront and chastise Muslims about, but, I don't think this is one of them.

Posted by: PRCS at April 23, 2006 2:16 AM

Ditto to much of what PRCS has stated here already.

As an Orthodox Jew, my wife and I will not attend mixed fitness/swimming facilities, etc., for reasons of modesty, as dictated by Jewish law.

If someone makes these facilities available to our use, fine. If not, then too bad, we are stuck.

Of course, as mentioned by others, Judaism's laws of modesty don't dictate that such gender segregated facilities or schedules be limited to Jews only. Whatever for?!

That being said, in this case here, it appears a business reneged on its promise to provide such facilities. This boils down to a legal issue between consumers and a business. Who cares?!

As for public schools offering separate hours for swimming/gym, as long as it does not detract from the benefits of others, why not?

But to rebut PRCS, I have to say this: anything having to do with Islam is deemed as repulsive to those here that have read up on the religion, its dictates and its history. Therefore, anything Islamic is deemed potentially dangerous and condemned.

Sadly, I have come to the same conclusion over the past few years. The one thing that I must stress is that Muslims and Islam are not equal. Yet, as we all know, where and how do you draw the lines distinguishing them?

Posted by: Shy Guy at April 23, 2006 3:12 AM

Shy Guy wrote:

"...anything having to do with Islam is deemed as repulsive to those here that have read up on the religion, its dictates and its history. Therefore, anything Islamic is deemed potentially dangerous and condemned.

I agree, for the most part, and neither condone nor make excuses for the truly repulsive actions of Muslims taken in the name of their religion.

And while the women are citing religious beliefs as the basis for the segregation, they are apparently not demanding that non-Muslim women be excluded from these sessions, but rather all men. Other than fiscal concerns, I can't imagine a really good reason not to grant them that request. And, in truth, more liberated women could work out in the men's section.

But I do see the Seattle situation in a completely different light, as that involves a public swimming pool that has accomodated (with tax-payer dollars) the Muslim Sister swim event.

P.S. I always enjoy reading your posts.

Posted by: PRCS at April 23, 2006 4:38 AM

I live in East London, our local council-run gym has set aside seperate times for muslim women. Not only are they not prepared to train in front of men they have stated that they are not prepared to train with non-muslims of any gender.

As I live in a country whose government is so weak and dhimmified that they give in to all islamic demands, I should not be surprised. Naturally if I were to suggest a non muslim women-only (let alone men only) training session that would be totally racist/islamiphobic etc. etc. etc.

So to sum up, if you want to be given preferential treatment in my country over the majority of the indiginous population, just murder a load of people on ther way to work and then claim you are being persecuted.

And people wonder why the BNP is gaining more and more supporters.

Posted by: DaveMate at April 23, 2006 6:41 AM

Islam can be compared to a sexist movement made up by dominant males: Everything in Islam somehow involves the protection of females from impure thoughts of males. As such, the male Muslim has acknowledged his impurity and imposes his psychosis onto the behavior of females. In essence, Islam implicitly considers females as mere sex objects that are to be protected. Sadly, most Muslim females believe that they are treated with respect, not knowing that they actually lost a great deal of freedom and integrity by mental subjugation and control of the rather aggressive and intimidating Muslim males.

Jan.

Posted by: Jan Vink at April 23, 2006 7:02 AM

Today it is fitness clubs. Tomorrow, it will be schools. When will thiss all end? The thought of such segregation is truly horrifying. I can only think of what the Taliban did when they ruled Afghanistan.

Posted by: Christian at April 23, 2006 10:18 AM

I have to agree with PRCS as well, that the complaints about these women are bogus. They behaved exactly as we should want Muslims (or any minority with non-mainstream beliefs) to do: they inquired _before_ joining whether their needs would be satisfied by the business. They did not _demand_ it. That's capitalism, free market, very American.

The demand now is not that the business do what they want, but that business do what the _business promised to do_. It's a pure customer satisfaction issue, no different than any other contract dispute. The business should either fufill its promise or refund their membership fees.

Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at April 23, 2006 11:50 AM

AOG,

There you go.

Now, here's where we should draw the line:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/007681.php

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002389078_muslimswim.html

http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/004929.html

Thanks.

Posted by: PRCS at April 23, 2006 1:25 PM

I finally read the entire article in the Detroit Free Press and towards the bottom of the article I found that C.A I.R. is involved. Now it makes more sense to me.

Posted by: dms at April 23, 2006 3:04 PM

I believe this issue will be addressed on Fox's 'Your World with Neil Cavuto' program tomorrow.

Posted by: PRCS at April 23, 2006 3:21 PM

Here in New Zealand the Christchurch city council put blinds up to screen off part of the pool so that Muslim women could swim unseen. It happens everywhere.

Posted by: brian_smaller at April 23, 2006 4:37 PM

brian smaller

I visited NZ about 20 years ago. A wonderful place and free of muslims. I told my friends in NZ to keep it that way. At the time, they had no idea what I was talking about.

Its a pity that NZ is kowtowing to these primitive people. NZ has a small population, and it is very vulnerable to an islamic demographic putsch.

Posted by: DP111 at April 23, 2006 8:37 PM

I'm afraid I have to side with the muslim women on this one. If they were promised separate facilities, they should have them. I prefer to work out in a female-only facility, especially when I'm horribly out of shape, like right now.

Public institutions are another thing altogether. There should be no special concessions made for muslims in public schools, swimming pools, tennis courts, gyms, or any other taxpayer funded venue.

These ladies should have carefully read their contracts. I've joined several health clubs that opened with considerable fanfare and throngs of clients and they didn't stay open a year. A lifetime membership in a health club is not a prudent investment.

Posted by: Susanp at April 24, 2006 1:21 AM

I am not Muslim but I know enough about it to defend it. The funny thing is that people responded to the article with ignorance. They are ignorant about the Muslim faith and Muslim women. They think they know it all but fools like those people believe whatever they see on TV, which is very sad but that is American culture for you. Like Ms. Saidi said: ” In Islam, there are codes of modesty for both genders.” Apparently women in American have no modestly what so ever. They want to be watched naked; they want men viewing them as a piece of meat rather a person. They want to be humiliated.

Some of you said Muslim women like to be caged and enslaved, or even beaten. Seriously when was the last time you been to a Muslim house? When was the last time you spoke to a Muslim woman? When was the last time you really wanted to learn about Islam instead of watching the TV that displayed a negative message it? You are all a disgrace to christianly and to the American culture.

And freewomen, you are just an idiot. Seriously you took all this time to respond to every person. That just shows what a hateful person you are. Hate is the absence of love. So god helps you with that area. You are sick and full of hate.

You mentioned: ” The muslims are so scared women will get turned on by hunky (and who wouldn't!) men.” Just because you are a horny little hateful slut doesn’t mean all women are. You stupid pervert. It’s not about being turned on by other men; it’s about having some respect and dignity to work out freely without having a guy or a fag like you looking at their asses. I bet you have a fatass too, I don’t think you heard of gym before.

You just made a fool out of yourself and proved what a hateful ignorant woman you were. I feel sorry for you and women who replied to this email with disgusting hateful responses. Hate is a disease and you are all sick. I put a website for you if you want to learn, but i doubt that. The article was written by an American muslim, and you know whats funny, you insult the muslim religion and you named it a cult. then why is the fastest growing religion in the world. hmmmmm i wonder.

Get educated

Posted by: hateWesternIgnorantPeople at April 24, 2006 10:15 AM

oh yeah one more thing. I see some of you are not familiar with fitness USA terms, and that says a lot about you, since we are the fatest country in the world. it is an agreement that women get 3 days to work out and men get 4 days, but appreatly and as usual Businesses hunger for money and dont really follow their own policy. when she signed for a 3 day men free. it should be how it was written. but since no one of you fatasses work out you wouldnt really know.

Peace :)

Posted by: hateWesternIgnorantPeople at April 24, 2006 10:19 AM

I am not Muslim but I know enough about it to defend it. Posted by Hate

Dear Hate,

You came to the wrong place to defend the indefensible! We know a thing or two about Islam ourselves and that's why we don't like it. When someone like you shows up and calls us names, it usually turns out to be an indignant muslim or a totally ignorant useful idiot. My guess is that you're a muslim, and I'm assuming that because of your dead giveaway name.

Posted by: Susanp at April 24, 2006 11:34 PM

RE: the gym - a deal is a deal. If the lady was promised something, she should receive it. As far as public schools are concerned, there need be no accommodation to change coeducational policies because of the religious needs/views of any group.If they do not like the public schools, they are certainly free to educate their kids elsewhere.

Posted by: MP at April 25, 2006 1:33 PM

hateWesternIgnorantPeople, the only WesternIgnorantePeople are those that do not know the true nature of Islam. the Western Learned People are on this site and many like it, know islam is a death cult, controls every aspect of life, allows killing of women, and non muslims, we know your sharia and do not want any part of it. when moslems move to Western countries, they are leaving filty countries coming to Freedom. if you cannot accept our Western Values get the $!#$ out!

Posted by: Lulu at April 26, 2006 7:33 AM

I'm late to the party but, dosen't Michigan have a chain of Women's Workout World gyms?

Just asking.

Posted by: Ironman Hondo at April 26, 2006 11:28 AM