Three women have been expelled in recent days from the public swimming pools of Burgos for swimming with the so-called burkini, a swimsuit that almost entirely covers the bodies of women of Islamic faith and only leaves the face, hands, and feet exposed. The reason given by the security officials of these municipal facilities is that local regulations are being violated, which prohibit swimming for people who do not wear regular swimsuits or enter the facilities with street clothes. The mayor of Burgos, Cristina Ayala (PP), has insisted that the legislation has been in force for years and that the pool employees have simply enforced the ordinances, although she has assured that she will bring the issue to political debates with other parties to study whether it is appropriate to make any changes to these laws.
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El Diario de Burgos has reported that at least three women were urged to get out of the water because street clothes or footwear are not allowed in the swimming areas, and a swimming cap and appropriate footwear must be used. This Burgos regulation does not only affect women who wear burkinis or those long clothes covering their bodies, but any person, regardless of religion, who tries to enter the pools with street clothes, citing public hygiene reasons. It is prohibited “to access or remain with footwear and/or street clothes in the beach areas, shower areas of changing rooms, and recreational grass, except for competitions and activities with express authorization,” states the regulations of the municipal sports facilities of the city of Burgos.
The local newspaper has reported that the workers of these municipal pools warned the three women that they could not swim under those conditions and that they had to leave the swimming area. Two of them were clearly wearing “street clothes” while there was some doubt about a third, as she wore a “rashguard,” a swimsuit that covers most of the body and is usually used by surfers or those with skin problems who are very sensitive to the sun. The Burgos regulation indicates that “swimsuits, t-shirts, and neoprene or lycra garments are authorized with the express authorization of the Municipal Sports Service by medical prescription and for a determined duration of six months.”
The city’s mayor, Cristina Ayala (PP), has been questioned about this situation and has reiterated that simply guidelines that have been agreed upon for several years have been followed. “[Swimming with a burkini] is not allowed at this time, the regulations are being followed. What has been done in previous years has been respected, there is nothing different,” she stated to the media. Ayala communicated that the Sports councilor, Carolina Álvarez, informed her colleagues of what happened and they decided to refer the matter to the Sports Council so that the other political parties with council representation (her former partner, Vox, and the PSOE as the opposition leader) can decide whether there is room to modify the regulations and “let the political bodies express their opinion on whether to continue with the same regulations and rules that have been in force without change or if it is necessary to reconsider” the acceptance of these garments: “We will submit it to debate, we want to gauge what others think about it and we will end up making a decision. It is a good time for all parties to express their opinions.”
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