In a small rural village, Katrineholm, in Sweden, officials ask for lifeguards at bathing places. The reason for this request is that otherwise immigrant muslim women, bathing in burkas, might risk their life by drowning.
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– Some immigrant girls are not permitted to be in the water without these body covering clothes, but as the clothes are heavy they increase the risk of drowning, Mr. Asplund tells the local paper. The summer of 2003 a Somalian girl drowned whilst swimming fully dressed at one of these swimmingplaces. Similar accidents are regularly taking place across the country of Sweden when burkas and similar clothes get wet and pull the woman under the water surface. |
Mr Marcus Asplund works at Västra Sörmlands Rescue Service preventing drowning accidents. He recommends the City Council of Katrineholm to employ lifeguards, especially at the popular bathing places Djulöbadet and Duveholmsbadet. The reason for this is that swimming clothes covering the whole body have become a popular fashion among female inhabitants in this Swedish rural area. Unfortunately they often don’t know how to swim.|
– We have arranged swimming lessons for the immigrant girls in the citys public indoor swimming pool. They are offered total body covering swimming clothes, burkinis, so anyone who wants to learn how to swim is welcome, he ends. |
The City Council of Katrineholm is though not willing to arrange for lifeguards this summers swimming season. Pat Werner (labour) chairman of the Custodian and Technology Board regards swimming education is the way to go.