South Tyrol Pool Introduces Separate Burkini Hour for Muslims
A swimming pool in South Tyrol, Italy, will offer women-only hours for Muslim swimmers, drawing criticism from conservative politicians who call it segregation and support from centrists citing inclusion.
Starting next week, the facility will reserve its pool on Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM exclusively for women from the Muslim community, according to Junge Freiheit. During this hour, which takes place after regular operating hours, the wearing of burkinis will be expressly permitted.
Luca Lechthaler, the pool’s leaseholder, described the special opening as a contribution to greater inclusion. He noted that other associations could also make use of comparable offerings outside regular opening hours.
Political Backlash from Conservative Parties
The initiative has drawn sharp criticism from conservative political figures. Silvia Sardone, deputy leader of the Lega party, called the measure absurd, arguing that it promotes segregation rather than integration. She stated that the separation of men and women and the explicit permission for burkinis institutionalizes a division between genders and communities.
The South Tyrolean Freedom Party also condemned the swimming hour arrangement. Party chairman Roland Stauder said such regulations promote a view of women based on oppression, veiling, and coercion. He characterized the move as another sign of failed integration policy.
Center-Right South Tyrolean People’s Party Defends Initiative
Support for the measure came from the South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP), the sister party of Austria’s ÖVP. SVP Senator Julia Unterberger described the swimming hour as a gesture of sensitivity and social inclusion. She argued that the dedicated time enables women who would otherwise not visit the pool to exercise and use public space.
Roland Lazzeri, mayor of Salurn, explained that the leaseholder has independent authority to decide on such additional offerings. The special opening is scheduled to take place once per week after regular pool hours for the time being.
The controversy reflects broader tensions across Europe over accommodation of Islamic religious practices in public facilities and the balance between cultural sensitivity and integration expectations in Western societies.
With information from Junge Freiheit
