One week after swimming in a burkini swimming pool in Grenoble, the women and activists behind this campaign returned Sunday, this time to meet users and to "calm the game".
Remaining on the sidewalk, about fifteen people, mostly belonging to the collective Alliance Citizen, have tried to raise awareness of the cause of these Muslim women protesting against "discriminatory regulations" swimming pools vis-à-vis this garment bath very covering.
Debate and testimonials of support
They did not try to enter the establishment, kept anyway for three days by guards and municipal police. They received many testimonials of support and quietly discussed with detractors, said an AFP journalist.
"Secularism is also the right of everyone to dress as he sees fit, including in a swimming pool, as long as the swimsuit does not violate any rule of hygiene or safety," said Eleonora, a resident. "It's political your thing! These are things that bring fascism," plague on his side Alain, sixty.
Citizen Alliance had launched on Tuesday on the internet an invitation to a "swimming pool with family", with possible loan of burkini, the third action of this type in six weeks in Grenoble, consisting for these women to enter by surprise in the pool and dressed. "Finally, we preferred to calm the game, said Lucas, a sympathizer." The week was hectic: our voice was relayed (by the press, ed), but we were also threatened, "says Soumia, 17 years. "We want to register now in the long time," said Adrien Roux, director of the Citizen Alliance in Grenoble.
"This garment is a choice, not a bid"
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, Secretary of State for Equality between Women and Men Marlene Schiappa and Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet have called this week bathers compliance with the regulation. Marlène Schiappa insisted on the aspect according to her inegalitarian of this outfit. "This garment is a choice, not a submission," replies Latifa, 50.
The ecologist Mayor of Grenoble Éric Piolle called on the government to "take a stand" on issues of secularism and hygiene issues raised by this case. Friday, in the Dauphiné Libéré , he called Citizen Alliance to respect the regulation of pools and to "make his own buzz".