Sexism storm over men-only swimming for Muslims

A TOWN’S Olympic swimming pool has introduced men-only sessions for its growing Muslim population, prompting claims of sexism and discrimination.

The gender-segregated time slots were brought in for ‘cultural reasons’. But they have outraged female swimmers, who must use an inferior pool at popular times.

The Friday evening sessions are offered at the Inspire Sports Village in Luton, Bedfordshire, which was built using taxpayer funds and featured in Olympic diver Tom Daley’s gameshow Splash! They give men exclusive access to the 50m competitive pool, while women will be confined to a neighbouring community pool measuring only 20m.

The sessions are being advertised on Facebook as ‘Alhamdulliah swimming’, using an Arabic phrase meaning ‘Praise be to God’. Posters for the events, which began last Friday, ask that men cover themselves from ‘navel to knee’.

They explain the slots run from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, with ‘kids, adults beginners and pros all welcome’. The sessions cost £3.50 for men and £2.50 for children, who have access to the shallow area.

Women-only slots take place later in the evening and are pricier, running from 9pm to 10pm and costing £3.80 for adults and £2.60 for children.

The man who devised the idea of male-only swimming sessions said it was due to Luton having a ‘very large Muslim population’. Abdul-Wadud Ahmed, 31, said 40 swimmers attended the first event.

But mother-of-two Mandy Temple, 36, who works as a bank cashier and lives in Luton, said: ‘I can’t believe this is allowed to happen. The swimming pool was built and is run using taxpayers’ money.

‘It’s segregating and undermines women, who are forced into the smaller pool while men enjoy the luxury of the bigger pool. It’s old-fashioned and sexist.’

An Active Luton spokesman said: ‘We aim to provide everyone in our community, regardless of age, ability or ethnicity, with opportunities to get active in ways which suit their wide-ranging needs and lifestyles.’