Recently, three Muslim women were asked to leave a public swimming pool in Burgos, Spain, for wearing burkinis, which local news sources reported on Thursday.
A burkini is a swimwear option designed for Muslim women, covering the entire body except for the face, hands, and feet. Local regulations in Spain prohibit individuals from wearing casual clothing or footwear in public swimming pools for hygiene reasons, according to El Diario de Burgos.
This dress code not only forbids burkinis but also stipulates that no one—regardless of gender—can swim in anything other than standard swimsuits.
While this pool dress code has been in place for over a decade, a recent report by Elle Confidential highlighted that the three women were removed from the El Plantio y San Amaro pool after not adhering to the rules. The report noted that similar restrictions exist in several Spanish municipalities, though not nationally, and pointed out that France has also expressed its stance on similar matters.
“Local regulations do not consider the implications of certain clothing, which can be seen as a valid expression of modesty or, conversely, as a form of oppression by hiding a woman’s body,” stated the outlet.
The report further expressed that the burkini might be viewed as unfamiliar by many Spaniards.
According to reports, a dispute arose regarding the third woman after officials asked all three to leave. While the first two women’s attire was classified as casual clothing, the third woman argued she was wearing a “rash guard,” which is designed for sun protection and preventing rashes.
Burgos’ mayor, Cristina Ayala, addressed the media about the incident. As noted in El Pais, Ayala remarked that the current rules have been long-standing and defended the actions of pool officials as merely following the city’s regulations.
“Swimming in a burkini is not permitted. Regulations are in place, and we have to respect past customs. Nothing changes,” Ayala explained.
Ayala, associated with the centre-right People’s Party (PP), indicated that the sports council would discuss the issue with the various parties represented in the city council (including the PP, the populist Vox party, and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE)). She mentioned that they would consider whether to maintain the existing regulations or revisit the matter.
“We will bring this up for discussion. It’s important to gauge other opinions, and eventually, we aim to reach a decision,” Ayala added, as reported by El Pais.
Besides banning civilian clothes, Burgos regulations also prohibit wetsuits or lycra suits unless a doctor’s note is provided to justify their use.
