10 August 2016

French 'burkini' pool party for Muslim women cancelled after organisers receive death threats

A ‘burkini’ swimming pool party in France has been cancelled after the organisers received death threats, less than a week after the local mayor said he wanted to ban the event.

Mayor Michel Amiel of Pennes-Mirabeau, near Marseilles, announced he had discussed the proposed party with the Speed Water Park venue with regards to the “extreme ideological positions” he believed the organisers were taking.

A joint decision was made to call off the event in an effort to “calm the situation” and preserve public order after a heated reaction from residents, according to the Local.

Muslim community group Smile 13 had organised the event for September 10 as an opportunity for women to swim in private for eight hours while wearing the burkini swimming costume. [The Independent] Read more