“Participants aged 10 and over must ensure their bodies are covered from waist to knee and the entire torso extending to the upper arms.” The plan has triggered a furious debate.
Herald Sun An overwhelming 94 per cent of heraldsun.com.au readers disagree with the legal ruling approving the contentious ban during next year’s Ramadan. “The minimum dress requirements are set having regard to the sensitivities of Muslims who wish to participate in the event.”
So far the Premier John Brumby has refused to weigh into the debate about the event, saying he will wait to see the VCAT ruling before making any comment.
VCAT has approved a ban on uncovered shoulders and thighs for a community event to be held at the Dandenong Oasis, a municipal pool. “Participants aged 10 and over must ensure their bodies are covered from waist to knee and the entire torso extending to the upper arms,” a request by Dandenong City Council and the YMCA states in an exemption application to the Equal Opportunities Act. “Participants must not wear transparent clothing.”
Many readers feel the administrative ruling has gone too far to appease minority interests, and even senior Islamic figures have raised concerns about the precedent.
The request has been approved by VCAT and applies to a family event to be held at the pool next August.
“The applicant intends this to be an event where people of all races and religions and ages may attend, use the Centre’s facilities and socialise together,” VCAT notes.
“The holy month of Ramadan has a particular focus on families and the applicant wishes to encourage families to attend and socialise together with others.
The ban was yesterday compared by the Human Rights Commissioner Helen Szoke to a ban on thongs in a pub.
Sherene Hassan, vice-president of the Islamic Society of Victoria, said she didn’t support the dress restrictions. “My preference would be that no dress code is stipulated,” Ms Hassan said.
A spokeswoman for the City of Greater Dandenong said the ban would help Muslims feel part of the community.
Jack Rider says
It’s really odd to me. The muslims profess this enforced puritanical modesty to please allah but would “honor-kill” a young women who refused arranged marriage to an old man. Killing in allah’s name does not offend them. FGM does not offend them. Sewing up a eomen’s vaginal lips does not offend them. All the beheadings, terrorism and brutality on innocent animals does not offend them. It is what allah decrees! But don’t wear a swim suit or you will go to hell. It is also odd that despite all these calls for modesty and subjugation of women the muslim religion has this highly eroticized vision of heaven with 72 virgens with big brown eyes feeding grapes to to the stink hole savages. Really, it’s wonderful how such nonsense can penetrate and control minds and push them into such barbaric violence. Islam is the religion that denies its believers the benefit of insight.
Az gal says
Set up their own pools where they pay a high membership fee. That’ll stop the nonsense.
Keith Ellerby says
How not to win friends and influence people and create a more friendly environment in one easy lesson.
Multiculturalism is causing more and more problems. Why should everyone comply with islamic dress rules, where do we draw the line?
countryadam578 says
In America do as we do. If not go back to the miserable land you came from with no swimming pools. 94% is more than a simple majority, so shut up or stay out of the pool…..
andrewblackadder says
All Aussie females should go topless,or even nude, at least in the tiny Bikinis often seen on Beaches,in the Pool this month of starvation to show muslims they are NOT in an islamic Nation and that if they dont like Aussie Laws then they can all fuck off..
The Aussie men should wear the tiny Speedos often seen on the Beaches of Europe.
There fixed it…. No charge…
If muslim ”men” demand that ALL women cover their entire bodies from head to toe otherwise it will cause him to rape her then muslim men are admitting they are indeed… rapists…