Muslim mother, daughters wearing burkinis barred from pool in Canada

TORONTO (AA) – A Muslim mother and her daughters wearing ‘burkinis’ were not allowed to swim at a water park in Canada.

A burkini is a swimming costume worn by Muslim women, which fully covers the body according to religious requirements, leaving only the hands, face and feet exposed.

Mother Halima Jelloul, her husband and two daughters were on vacation and had booked a room at the Lilac Resort in Winnipeg, capital of the southern Manitoba province.

The family was told that they could not enter the pool as they were wearing ‘burkinis.’

Jelloul described, “The owner approached us and said that due to the burkini that my daughter and I were wearing, we were not allowed on the waterslide. My daughters began crying. I had to ask my daughters if they wanted to stay or leave.”

“We experience that on a daily basis at the beach. People looking at you not knowing what it is, which is okay. But some education needs to happen,” Jelloul added.

“I was very uncomfortable, obviously. I wasn’t shocked it happened,” said Jelloul’s daughter Salma Douida.

“And I think that Muslim women or anyone who dresses modestly should have the right to and that if this happens to them, they should speak up,” the 14-year-old added.

After the unpleasant incident, a health inspector was called to solve the problem. The family was given permission after the inspector stated that it was not against public health rules to enter the pool or water park with a burkini. However, the family chose to leave.

“As long as the burkini in question is properly constructed, there are no safety concerns,” said Christopher Love, the organization’s safety management coordinator.

Dan Manaigre- the resort’s owner- said he approached the family because he didn’t know what a burkini was and thought it was streetwear — a major public health violation if worn in a pool.

“I want to apologize to the family because I just didn’t know,” said Manaigre.

The ban on Muslim women entering the beach or pools with ‘burkinis’, which started in France in 2016 and spread to some European countries, was also requested to be implemented in Canada at that time.

While the burkini continues to be banned in France, Canada has not officially imposed a ban on the costume.

In the province of Quebec which is known for its pro-French practices, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejected a suggested ban on burkini.