Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The burkini is preferred by large numbers of women to wear for swimming, especially by the Muslim community in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union. Wearing the burkini has become permitted for the first time in a swimming pool within the capital of a united Europe, which is the “Neptunium” swimming pool in the municipality of Schaerbeek in Brussels, a municipality known to include large numbers of women. Foreign immigrants, especially Muslims. The municipal council wanted to open the pool to everyone who wanted to swim and respect the rules. The Municipal Council rejected the criticism directed at these regulations and considered them “a baseless controversy.” According to what was reported by the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad on Tuesday
The Neptunium swimming pool in Schaerbeek was closed for renovation work for more than six years, but was ceremoniously reopened last Saturday. However, French-language public broadcaster RTBF noted on Monday that the burkini is not explicitly banned in the new dress code.
“Swimmers must wear swimwear designated for this purpose,” the regulations say. “Only traditional swimwear is permitted, as well as swimwear designed for swimming that covers all or part of the body.” The term "burkini" is not explicitly mentioned in the regulations, but in practice people are allowed to swim in covered swimsuits.
Surprisingly, according to the same source, Neptunium Swimming Pool is the only swimming pool in Brussels that allows this, and in all other swimming pools in the city of Brussels, wearing all types of burkinis is explicitly prohibited.
“The focus is on banning loose clothing,” said Baptiste Boyden, communications officer for the municipality of Schaerbeek. “All swimmers must wear tight-fitting clothing in the swimming pool. Beach clothes, shorts, skirts and loose clothing are not permitted.
The municipal council wants to open the pool to everyone who wants to swim in a new pool and respect the rules properly. The press release said that the swimming pool is a unique place that brings together people of all ages, backgrounds and social classes and should not become a place of division and discrimination. The municipality rejects the criticism directed at this measure, describing it as a "baseless controversy."