What special accommodations do Australian pools make for Jewish women? Christian women? Hindu women? Buddhist women? Atheist women? Or do only Muslim women warrant special accommodations?
“Auburn pool gets swim screen for Muslim women,” by Melissa Yeo, Parramatta Advertiser, May 17, 2017:
PRIVACY curtains have been installed at a new public pool in Auburn so Muslim women can swim without being seen by other pool users.
The lightweight curtain runs around the glass walls of the program pool where female-only swimming sessions are held for two hours each Sunday. Pool staff can draw the curtain to block the view into pool when the sessions are held.
Belgravia Leisure, which operates the refurbished council-run facility which was opened in March, says the curtain was installed to overcome cultural barriers and encourage Muslim women to use the pool.
The curtain can be pulled around the exterior of the pool to provide privacy for female swimmers. Jonathan Jamsek booking co-ordinator, Brittany Owens.General manager Anthony McIntosh said it was a move to make the pool accessible for all cultural groups.
“There was a lot of research done prior to construction and we identified that they were user groups that we wanted to accommodate,” he said.
“Traditionally that core population group that would use the pool with the blinds closed would have to come after hours or at the earliest or latest possible times.
“Having the blinds means they can use it in the middle of the day and still have full access.”
Traditionally, women wearing the hijab have had to fork out for modesty swimsuits or not swim at all but the privacy of the new pool means they can be comfortable in a female-only setting.
Similar facilities have attracted controversy at other council pools within Sydney and interstate but the operator is within its rights to section off the pool under the anti-discrimination act.
Section 126 states that exemptions to the act can be granted in order: “to provide people of a particular race with equal or improved access to facilities, services or opportunities to meet their special needs”.
With only one pool at the previous centre, Muslim women had to cover up.
Auburn Council general manager Malcolm Ryan supports the move.
“There was a very high demand for female-only classes at the aquatic centre before redevelopment to cater for the differing modesty requirements,” he said.
“These classes were very popular but due to the centre only having one pool before redevelopment, the high demand wasn’t being met.
“With the installation of curtains at the program pool, the Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre is inclusive to the whole community at all times and can cater to any requirement, without it impacting on the rest of the centre.”
The program pool is one of three pools at the complex and is used for rehabilitation or swim classes as well, with the curtain drawn only during prescribed women’s swimming times.
“It is fairly common in the industry to have these types of spaces but they are usually blocked off with black plastic on a window,” Mr McIntosh said.
“We have made conscious effort to make it more open and light.”
Local women are thrilled at the new feature and hope it will encourage more to dive in.
A keen swimmer at Auburn pool when she was younger, Yusra Metwally founded women’s swimming group Swim Sisters last year in a bid to keep young Muslim women in the sport.
“There has been so much discussion about what women can wear in the pool and so many have turned away from swimming for that reason,” she said.
“Having that option just means that there are more opportunities to get women swimming and more women in the pool who may have had barriers to enter a pool under ordinary circumstances.”
While modesty suits, commonly known as ‘burkinis’ are becoming more and more regular, the private space means women can wear whatever they are most comfortable with.
“I was one of those women who didn’t like swimming in a burkini and for a long time I didn’t swim because of it,” she said.
“I remember when I was younger I was told by a lifeguard that my clothes weren’t appropriate for the pool — you feel like you are being policed and that you stand out.
“Some women are worried that what they wear in the pool can expose them to questions, comments or stares.”
Ladies-only memberships are available at the pool, with lessons in water safety offered every week alongside women’s swimming sessions every Sunday afternoon….
Georg says
“What special accommodations do Australian pools make for Jewish women? Christian women? Hindu women? Buddhist women? Atheist women?”
None, because they don’t threaten violence, hysteria, libel, slander, and litijihad.
Benedict says
And which accommodations would they make for nudists who want to swim totally naked – preferably with an audience?
Creole Gumbo says
Good point Benedict but I suspect that they will say that nudity is not a religion, which is why the word needs to be defined.
maghan says
But why does “religion” have such a special place in the West? The West has advanced because of science and practical technology–not because of religion.
After all, religion is based on certain beliefs and practices only. Just beliefs which like any other set of beliefs should be subject to “strict epistemological analysis”.
Again, what is so special about Islam–a primitive set of illogical and non-factual beliefs? What about the Aztec religion? Is Islam a “sacred cow” religion
because of the oil of the Arabian peninsula and the ME?
BC says
“you feel like you are being policed and that you stand out.” Really?
They make the ‘choice’ to ‘stand out’, if they wore the same clothes as non Muslims nobody would pay any attention to them.
Don Foss says
Don’t make the Muslims angry. Period.
fed up says
To know who your masters our, just look to who you are not allowed to criticize.
commonsense says
This is yet another example of creeping shari’a.
JMB says
Absolutely. They come to this country for a better life a modern prosperous nation with it’s freedoms, it’s rule of law and unique life-style. Do they show any gratitude? No way. Do they hate us? Very much so. Do they want to take us back to the dark ages with their medieval religion of hate? Absolutely.
gravenimage says
Muslims don’t come to the West for freedom and better lives–not most of them, anyway. They come here in order to take over–and this creeping Shari’ah is very much a part of that.
maghan says
Not “medieval” but “primitive”.
Frank Liso says
MORE, RIDICULOUS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THESE INGRATES.
BARBARA says
Muslims aren’t the only group that don’t approve of mixed swimming. Amish, Hutterites, conservative Mennonites and certain Pentecostals all want separate swimming. I realize no government in Europe would make such a move on behalf of a Christian or Orthodox Jewish group, but it’s important to realize that Muslims are not the only ones who would like separate swimming.
gravenimage says
None of these groups are demanding that public pools accommodate their desires, nor is this part of religious law they would impose on the entire world as such Purdah is in Islam.
And Australia is not in Europe, although you find the same sort of dhimmitude in many places there, as well.
Don Foss says
It’s a public swimming pool. Now half the public (men) can’t use it at certain times. And for those men who;s most convenient time form exercise are those times? F ’em. They’re men. And worse, probably White Christian men.
Glyn Davies says
I hope they seperate the ugly to the womans side also
mortimer says
4,200 different religions in the world ALL DESERVE SPECIAL RIGHTS or NONE do.
Equality means one rule for all. If they want a special segregated pool, then let them PAY FOR THEIR OWN.
Don Foss says
Bingo!
No Fear says
I lived in Auburn from 1959 to 1966. It was a pleasant place then. Now it is full of Mohammedans.
Bill W. says
I think the west should pool drain all the water out,(no worry about drowning with all girls clothed in head to foot in cloth) the girls can walk into the pool no males around ,then they can lay face down ,do the motions for breast stroke, free style ect..Every one can be happy!
JMB says
Auburn used to be the sort of suburbs where young Australians of modest means could afford to live, purchase a house. In those days we had many friends and family there. Now with its Middle East crime gangs, mosques, corruption it is just another of Sydney’s many Islamic Hell Holes.
gravenimage says
This breaks my heart. How many neighborhoods in how many towns throughout the West are now overrun with Mohammedans?
Ricky says
I’ll bet there are other groups of women around that would love to share a female-only swimming session. Nuns, orthodox and haredi Jews, some of the more intense feminists. If they all get together they’d have to extend the hours. And even organize some men-only hours.
I approve of both.
marina says
Why doesn’t Saudi Arabia build swimming pools for mozlems in the west? They are building mosques/islamic centers everywhere. The moslems are the whiniest and the demanding people on this planet.
billybob says
Saudi Arabia doesn’t care about women. They are like cattle to them.
Jihadi John says
Because Muhammad never bathed in his entire life.
sidney penny says
Saudi Arabia is more interest in changing the minds of people through information and building mosques, especially in non-Islamic countries.
Like Qatar with Al Jazeera.(media)Spreading propoganda
AreaMan says
I’m sure there lots of other women in the area who would like to join the modesty swimming group. Of many different religions.
Aloha Akbar says
“I remember when I was younger I was told by a lifeguard that my clothes weren’t appropriate for the pool — you feel like you are being policed and that you stand out.”
uum.. Earth to Yusra.. It’s YOUR choice of clothing that makes you stand out.
“Some women are worried that what they wear in the pool can expose them to questions, comments or stares.”
Yusra.. see above statement.
Sigh! Always the poor victims.
JMB says
As a side issue, I live near Cronulla Beach, it used to be very popular with Muslims prior to the 2005 beach where basically young Australian males (also supported by Pacific Islanders) said enough is enough to Muslims taking over this popular family beach. But one of the issues also was that Muslim women would go into the surf wearing their full robes. It was deadly in our surf and put our life savers at risk trying to rescue them. Because of this some Australian fashion designers came up with the “burkini”, an Islamic approved swimsuit. (Here we are bowing down to them again) The burkini did not get acceptance here but did so in the South of France where if I understand correctly it caused a riot there a couple of years ago. We have to stop bowing down to Islam.
JMB says
Above should read “2005 beach RIOT” (1st sentence)
gravenimage says
JMB, I’m glad Australians said enough is enough at Cronulla. My understanding is that the main flash point was Muslims constantly attacking and molesting Australian women at the beach.
JMB says
That is correct. They were also making fun of and even physically threatening our live savers. These people are many volunteers and are generally regarded as heroes by most normal Australians. They rescued my wife on 3 separate occasions when she was young enough to go swimming in the sea.
Infidel Lass says
Why the world would they need a curtain anyway? Even I am less dressed than that when I go skiing. The article states such measures are admissible under the anti discrimination act but isn’t this action discriminatory in itself? Didn’t western woman fight to be considered men’s equals and allowed to use the same facilities as men do? And what if I decided, as a woman, to go for a swim in this gender segregated, harem style pool? Would I be discriminated against for my bikini? For the small silver Cross that I carry on my necklace at all times? For my uncovered haïr? For my skin colour, as a very White person? If my boyfriend needed to hand me a towel behind the curtain, would these superior women threaten and sue?
ElderlyZionist says
Muslim women are conditioned and accept that if they don’t maintain head-to-toe shapeless covered modesty and purdah gender segregation, they’ll be brutally raped by Muslim men. They’re right about that, you know.
Infidel Lass says
Oh that I do. But there would be no men behind that screen- only women. I’m guessing the discreet, quiet, bowed Muslimas would show extreme discrimination to non Muslim women in that setting. Sometimes the worse comes from the women. Irma Grese yesterday, your local Fatima today, if you catch my drift.
Aloha Akbar says
If you decide to swim there, make sure you bring a hazchem decontamination shower with you.
Wellington says
Indeed, as already mentioned, an example of Sharia creep.
West, wake up. Oh, I forgot, where Islam is concerned eternal slumber seems to be the option by the West.
Instructive, highly I would contend, that the Islamic world virtually never makes concessions to the West. Yeah, it’s virtually always the other way around———–and if this doesn’t strike someone as wrong, well then, that person is a doofus or something even worse. No exceptions.
gravenimage says
Australia: Pool gets swim screen for Muslim women
……………………
And dhimmi imposition of Shari’ah norms continues apace…
Of course, in Dar-al-Islam itself few women go swimming–nor will they, if Islam takes over in the West.
Arthur says
“…the curtain was installed to overcome cultural barriers…”
More doublespeak: in order to take down barriers, we must put up … barriers!
It’s 1984 all over again.
PRCS says
Good point.
gungadin says
WELL SAID ARTHUR !! Kudos !!
Wellington says
Very clever, Arthur. My compliments.
MacUalraig says
Well said, indeed.
tim gallagher says
This issue has of course been talked about on talk back radio and other media and many non-Muslim Australians are pretty angry about it, as they should be. But something I notice is plenty of people and radio commentators saying the Muslims, if they don’t want to integrate and fit in with our western way of life, should go back to Muslim countries. I find that ridiculous, and something which isn’t going to solve the problem, because Muslims, wherever they go are there to impose Islam. So they’re not going to leave. Which is why I always say, when I write to our politicians and others, the only solution is to stop Muslims getting into our country in the first place. Nothing else can possibly work. Once they’re in the country it’s too late. Islam is always trouble out of all proportion. Just barbaric and totally incompatible. A thousand times more trouble than from our Buddhist, Christian and other immigrant groups. It should be so bloody obvious to everyone by now.
Sarah says
Ugh, Auburn. An enclave of Muslims that has turned a previously very normal lower-middle class Aussie suburb into a violent Islamic hellhole that was, up til recently, run by a local council whose Deputy Mayor was a Muslim scumbag who he and his entire family are so up to their ears in filthiness and corruption that it caught the attention of the entire nation.
If you want a laugh, go look up Salim Mehajer on Youtube. There is a clip where he went on the Today show awhile back and announced his intention to eventually run for Prime Minister. Karl Stefanovic from the Today show and Ray Hadley (a radio announcer) are on the same clip, literally pissing themselves laughing over it all. The people of Auburn voted that Leb in. And kept voting him in. Til his corruption managed to get the entire council shut down and amalgamated into a neighbouring one.
Anyways. Let’s look at some stats here. There are approximately 24 million people in Australia. There are approximately 477,000 Muslims here. Which is around 2.2% of the entire population. They are a truly tiny number.
So, in Auburn there is around 33,000 residents. Of those people, about 15.7% speak Arabic at home. So, we can surmise that in Auburn, there’s a fairly reasonable chance of there being around 5,214 Muslims in the area. Now we can halve that figure straight away given we’re talking female’s here and we’re left with around 2,600. So, this pool business was done to appease a certain percentage of those 2,600 people who live in Auburn over the priority of the other 30 odd thousand people in the suburb. Because not every female Muslim in Auburn is going to insist on wearing a burkini, wanting a ‘safe space’ to swim in AND swimming at that pool.So, realistically – we are probably talking about around 30-200 women in total.
How the hell does that make sense? Islam is a choice. Its a choice to believe in it. Its a choice to cover up because of it. And its a choice to decide to not swim whatsoever all because there’s a chance your body MAY be viewed by someone of the opposite sex, despite your wearing what amounts to a very saggy wetsuit.
This is beyond the pale. Either cover up and swim, or stop swimming altogether. I could care less as to what your personal religious choices are – as long as I and everyone else don’t have to suffer consequences based on your own life and choices.
Want another fun fact about Auburn? It has the highest rates of drive by shootings in the country. And Middle Eastern gang crime is so prevalent there that it was the reason why the NSW people created the ‘Middle Eastern Crime Squad’ to begin with.
Sarah says
Sorry, the NSW Police, not ‘NSW people’. Typo.
Noel says
Sarah – I understand most of what you have stated, but Islam is not a choice. If you were born into it and thought that it was nonsense you could never tell anyone, not even your children. They might inform on you, and you would live in constant fear that they would. Living under Islam is like living under Stalin’s Russia. Fear of not conforming, fear of your thoughts being heard.
Jenny H says
Those regular 5 times a day prayers and regular recitations from the Koran are very effective, very powerful ways of changing your thought patterns, just like any other regularly carried out affirmations, especially if it includes an emotional component..
sidney penny says
Is this idea a segregation, as the women are receiving special treatment?
Which as Robert Spencer points out is not given to Jewish women, Christian women, Hindu women, Buddhist women and or Atheist women.
Why does Australia not encourage these communities to integrate and uphold the values of equality and respect, not division and segregation?
All this is paid for not by the women but by Australian taxes and local council rates.
Is this politics? Is this Sharia? Is this a moronic request? If the request is not met, cries of discrimination sing loud? Is this discrimination self-inflicted?
By the way, if the women do not swim at the beach, or in a normal pool, how are they going to drown?
sidney penny says
In Islamic countries, very few women swim even if they live near the sea or river.
King Edward Potato says
As a Christian no one has ever been concerned with my modesty requirements. I don’t bring them up due to the hostility it would unleash. The last time I went to the beach, girls about 14 were wearing g-string bikinis. Their parents were okay with it. I wasn’t. I left. The world is now a very strange place. Parents are terrified of sexual abuse but let their young daughters show their naked butt in public.
Back to the topic, I want a curtain, not so you can’t see me, but so I can’t see almost naked women, which offends my religious feelings. Not going to happen because I’m not from the right group. I will be considered a nut. This pool manager talks like a social worker. People do not normally use these phrases.
Beyondculturewars says
I would love to swim in a female only environment. I also love saunas, but don’t use the public ones because I always get lears and unwanted conversations from men other than my husband.
The true sharia test will come when non-muslim women, like you and me, try to use the same pool with muslim women….Will we be told to suit up in modesty wear, even though we may have purchased the special women only passes?
Sharia is NOT about modesty, but all about supremacy.
Jenny H says
At least some muslim women would object to non-muslim women swimming near them because they would consider them spiritually and even physically unclean. I’m sure this would be very ironic in some cases. I’m sure I saw a muslim religious question and answer website where the question was put as to how far from an infidel should they be when in a public pool to remain spiritually undefiled. If I remember correctly, I believe the Imam’s answer was 1.7 metres.
Hermes Liberty says
See related report from Canada…
http://dhummitudenorth.blogspot.ca/2017/03/is-this-shariah-compliant-swimming-or.html
At this pool not only are windows blocked out, but also no men are permitted in the lobby!
PRCS says
This “Sister Swim” situation has come up several times over the years in the U.S., Australia, and other nations. The controversy always boils down to this:
“PRIVACY curtains have been installed at a new public pool in Auburn so Muslim women can swim without being seen by other pool users.”
By which, “other pool users” would logically include “filthy unbeliever women”. But:
“The lightweight curtain runs around the glass walls of the program pool where female-only swimming sessions are held for two hours each Sunday. Pool staff can draw the curtain to block the view into pool when the sessions are held.”
They always—unwittingly, it seems—make the true purpose known. It’s actually about Muslim women. The reference to hijab really does make that clear.
Note, too:
“Section 126 states that exemptions to the act can be granted in order: “to provide people of a particular race with equal or improved access to facilities, services or opportunities to meet their special needs”
.
As always, Muslim is NOT a racial identity. And, really, of what “race” do women need that accommodation?
Many kuffar women prefer to swim during women only swim hours.
For a facility to provide a few hours a week for that purpose probably doesn’t cause much of a fuss.
But doing so to appease a group of women whose “religion” is their identity, should; especially when the story is so oxymoronic.
No Fear says
Since I recently learned (from my son) that gender is really just a thought process, I have decided to spend the rest of my days as a woman. I will cruise down to Auburn and hop into the pool along with all the muslim ladies. The muslim men , being so inclusive as we all know, should have no problems with that. The glorious lefties should welcome such an arrangement along with their beloved Islam comrades…..
No Fear says
I have changed my mind. I might write to Auburn Council and ask them to put up one giant curtain right around the entire suburb….just so non-muslims do not have to see the muslims at all. It’s only fair.
moeped says
No Fear, you’re onto something there “Since I recently learned (from my son) that gender is really just a thought process, I have decided to spend the rest of my days as a woman”
Use the Left’s and taqiyah practitioners’ tactics against them.
Fight fire with fire!
Politicianphobia says
Next step-Only Muslim women are allowed to swim in the pool–if you are not one of them you defile the water. ie. Asia Bibi in prison in Pakistan, she defiled the Muslim women’s water when she drank out of the cup meant for Muslims only.
Politicianphobia says
COMING HEADLINE; Thousands of citizens in Australia imprisoned on charges of blasphemy–they defiled pool water.
Gen Jones says
The only good news about this is that the comments section of the Australian newspaper is full of islamo savvy posts that are nearly 100% against this idea. At the original article there’s more photos. One is three Afghan children about ages 8-10 sitting on the pool ledge with their legs in the water. The boy wears board shorts, the two girls completely covered in “swimming” leggings, lose tunics and hijab like caps. Physically the three are almost identical, slim prepubescent kids. That the girls are not free to play without care, objectified and sexualized long before they are young women proves that this is about misogyny rather than “modesty”.
Dick B. says
Let’s have some non-muslim women (attempt to) swim there in bikinis. See what happens.
John A. Marre says
Because Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Atheist women aren’t in a constant state of anger and rage, and won’t cut your head off.
NabiRasch says
What’s the fuss?! Had the curtains for years now in Canadian schools–especially trendy Toronto–probably in the US too. The idea is to protect us guys from going bonkers if we see a piece of feminine skin.