Toronto Pools Ban Dads After Muslims’ Demands 22

Every Saturday morning, I take my youngest daughter to the Y for swim class. While she’s in the water, I sit on the bleachers and watch her, and chat with other parents.

Apparently, that makes me a perv in the eyes of a lot of Muslims. And if I lived in Canada, and we went to a municipal pool, I might be told to leave the pool area while averting my gaze — because I’m a guy.

TORONTO – When a single dad signed his nine-year-old daughter up for female-only swim lessons, he didn’t realize he — as a man — was going to be banned from watching her practice.

[The father] was shocked when he had the blinds to the viewing area of the Dennis R. Timbrell Recreation Centre pool in Flemingdon Park shut on him, and then was told by staffers it was for “religious reasons.”

Would it help if my daughter wore a 'modestkini'?

Would it help if my daughter (below) wore a ‘modestkini’?

jolie

“I spoke to a staff member and she told me that it’s because of Muslim women, that we’re not allowed to look at them or whatever,” he told the Toronto Sun Friday. “I don’t think religion has a role to play in a public pool.”

The city aquatics department confirms the account. The public pool also has gender-segregated time slots for men-only and women-only swimming, with the opposite sex not allowed to watch. This is requested by followers of Allah, for the same “religious and cultural reasons” as the no-male-onlookers rule that’s in effect during girls’ swims. The newspaper discovered that the policy, and the accommodation of religious demands, is in effect all over Toronto:

There are currently nine pools across Toronto that run the female-only swim program. All pools follow the same policy of not allowing people of the other sex to watch practices,

said city aquatics manager Anne Jackson.

Though some Muslims may crow about these concessions from the kuffar, I doubt they’re doing themselves any favors. The mental image I’m stuck with is of men who are collectively so sexually repressed sensitive that they might feel or do something impure at the sight of females — even eight- and nine-year-olds! — in a swimming pool.

Is that how Muslims want other people to think of them?

[images from the catalog of modestkini.com]

22 thoughts on “Toronto Pools Ban Dads After Muslims’ Demands

  1. Pingback: Cutting-Edge Lawmaking: As of Today, Canadian Sikhs May Carry Religious Swords in Court ← Moral Compass

  2. LaComtesse Apr 28,2013 4:45 am

    There’s a problem if they didn’t inform you you wouldn’t be able to watch, but no problem with women only hours/classes at pools or gyms, as long as there’s also men’s only hours/classes as well. No one thinks you’re going to perv, but there are a lot of pervs who do like to gawk at women at the gym/pool/fitness classes, which keep many women away from participating in sport, and you don’t have to be Muslim to feel that way. I don’t like using the weight machines at my current gym because I do feel I’m stared at, I much prefer to use the women only section, and I’m not religious at all.

    They should give you a refund so you can sign her up to another session or at another pool.

    Additionally, is there a particular reason you chose to highlight burkinis here? It’s irrelevant to the story, and seems somewhat Islamophobic.

    • Nilbog Aug 6,2013 2:10 pm

      You have got to be kidding me. Islamophobic? How do you look in the mirror after saying something that ridiculous?

  3. TyFighter May 7,2013 9:56 am

    I don’t think this article is islamophobic at all. Why is it okay for an organization of strangers to attempt to usurp supervision of a person’s child? The burkini was brought up to highlight the double standard in this situation: the needs of the muslim community are being prioritized over the rights and needs of parents simply wishing to participate in the growth and development of their children and also to assure their safety. This attitude of constant fear and villification of men leads society to simply hand their children over, and to whom? I really detest when people draw these parallels, but creating a palpable division between parents and children was one of the most effective strategies that the Nazi party employed in indoctrinating the children that the party found “acceptable” while sequestering (and eventually exterminating) the ones with special needs. This is not a good omen. What ever happened to “no children under twelve near the pool without parent?” that seemed like a much safer, more sane policy.

    • Jennifer Handke Jul 11,2013 2:50 pm

      I agree 100% TyFighter. It’s horrible when a group of peoples demands take precedence over a parents RIGHT to watch their own child participate in a sport. And I’m sure the children would like their parents there too.

  4. Pingback: British born Muslims laughing at murder of Lee Rigby - Page 7

  5. Brad Jul 10,2013 4:10 pm

    9 was old enough for Muhammad. What a disaster of a religion. It needs to be purged, along with the rest of the religions, from this planet as fast as possible.

  6. Prasad padmasanka Jul 10,2013 5:36 pm

    When Muslims first arrived to the country did they accept that there is a way of living in the Canadian society? Why didn’t they complain at the first place if they thought about these things.. They could Have chosen an Islamic state to go n live instead..
    Yes there are Perverts who peep on anyone and wanna get aroused whether its a child or a female. Canada had a way of living n outsiders come n change that way. This is a real
    Problem among many nations who allowed Muslims to come n live n enjoy the western nations. But what has happened is they try to pressure us to change according to their beliefs. Didn’t they know what country they were coming to? This has nothing to do with religion. It’s their insecurity n to show that they aren’t interested in respecting our ways but their books n what their imams teach in mosques. If they want they should hire a private sessions for them only. These actions clearly shows that they do not wanna blend in with our culture.. They wanna spread Islam so strongly that other infidels which are us must accept their beliefs ( clothbagging, raping, stoning , beheading, caining, no sports for women , multiple wives, ). How sad to see the small communities are decided over minorities n their stupid beliefs..

    • MurrayC Jul 10,2013 7:07 pm

      They knew EXACTLY where they were coming/going to. Their ultimate goal is to infiltrate western civilization under the guise of “wanting a better life” in a democratic society where they can change the rules of that society using “islamaphobia” as their weapon

  7. Regina Freitag Jul 10,2013 6:29 pm

    I’m an agnostic, but I would absolutely loooove all-female swim days. I’m so sick and tired of those (admittedly small percentage of) men staring and judging women. They make us uncomfortable and ruin the whole experience. But I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them were muslim. lol. But honestly, all-female swim days would be a great idea. I will actually ask at our swimming pool now if that’s possible.

    • Theresa32766 Jul 10,2013 9:37 pm

      There is nothing wrong with having an all women swim day, the problem is the ‘why’ it is an all women swim day. The reason given was, for selective religious beliefs (muslim) which is wrong!

    • Jennifer Handke Jul 11,2013 2:51 pm

      I agree with an all-woman swim day. But to ban parents from watching their children at a childs swimming lesson is ridiculous.

  8. CAT Jul 10,2013 6:40 pm

    Meanwhile, muslim males are okay with marrying a female shortly after she is born, but non-muslim men are perceived as perverts? Baloney!!!

  9. TStewart Jul 10,2013 6:43 pm

    LaLaComtesse. You need to find another word than islamophobic. That denotes fear. Disgust and outrage are not covered by it.

  10. MurrayC Jul 10,2013 7:02 pm

    It’s good to see these Muslim fathers have the best interest in the safety of these young girls.

    It’s not like they are shooting them in the head for wanting an education; or forcing them into marriages as early as age nine; or committing “honor killing” because their daughters have become “too westernized”; or raping them and then stoning them for committing adultery; or enact genital mutilation in order for them to remain “pure”; or denying them their most basic human civil rights

    What? They DID do those thing?

    Oohhhhhhhh….. Awkwaaaarrrrrrrrrrdd

  11. Maddy Jul 10,2013 8:06 pm

    I think the problem is the way this was handled, not that there is a women only time at the pool. Exclusive women’s spaces are important but I think in this context, a few hours of women only free swim time would be appropriate, for all of the reasons already listed in the comments, an the pool would need to make those times and rules explisitly clear. The problem is that it is a lesson time and perants need to be able to watch and supervise their children.

  12. Infidel Robert Jul 10,2013 11:34 pm

    Western Civilization better wake up. Islam does not tolerate ANY other religion and the Muslims goal is to make Islam the ONLY Religion on earth. Islam is NOT a religion. It is a social/economic/political/ theocracy that controls ALL aspects of the lives of those who adhere to it. Islam likes to think it is one of the 21 major religions in the world, but it is not. When we phrase it as a “religion” people in the west immediately think of it being just like Christianity, Judaism or any of the others – We have to get our heads around the fact that it isn’t. It is a totalitarian, blood thirsty ideology that seeks to destroy every culture that does not conform to its ideals. It does have a religious aspect to it, but that aspect is total domination of all and every area of an adherents life. Islam is not democratic.

  13. Christina Rogers Jul 11,2013 1:30 pm

    We are Christians. We do not go to public pools for modesty reasons. You know what? We don’t throw a fit and make the pools change their rules for us, we simply don’t go to public pools. It’s as easy as that. If they want to swim in a private area, they can go to a private pool and do so. I find it appalling that people everywhere are bending over backward for these people.

  14. Paul Jul 12,2013 12:09 am

    There is no such thing as “islamaphobia” nd that term makes me cringe.
    There is no reason for any society to bow before Muslim demands or be concerned with their feelings. They certainly aren’t concerned about yours.
    Islam: the religion of permanent offense.

  15. Paul Jul 12,2013 9:40 am

    Why islamaphobia doesn’t exist:
    http://youtu.be/RfJ6FpabknY

    Few people make more sense when attacking Islam than Pat Condell.

  16. Nilbog Jul 18,2013 11:10 am

    Why do we cater to these people? How do they have the balls to make demands after 9/11? Would any other country put up with this crap?

  17. red Aug 22,2013 3:24 am

    why do these people even want to immigrate here if it is so bad ? stay home you won’t be missed, live our way or stay away. we understand why you want your woman covered up, and are glad you do. Why keep pushing your perverted ways down everyones throat. Know one wants you here if your ways are so wonderful why leave your homes? Go home continue slaughtering each other. You wonder why everyone is against you lets see who is the leaders of all terrorist your a sick race of people. Stay home be happy we will all be happy. Continue to knock each other off, it’s for the best. what do you not disrupt? then every second day when some group protest in your home land you march around crying for our tax dollars to go save your homeland, get a grip look at the source your screwed up religion and extreme beliefs. You can’t fix stupid.

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