Swimming pools in Nizhnevartovsk banned Muslim swimsuits: many clashes with migrants

“They drink no less than the indigenous northern peoples”

Nizhnevartovsk, despite its northern location, has become extremely attractive to southern peoples from Muslim countries. Migrants from Central Asia, Turkey and the Middle East flock to Russia’s oil capital, bringing an oriental flavor to the northern part of Russia. Families are moving “for a long ruble” at once, and judging by messages on social networks, this worries local residents.

– There are a lot of clashes between locals and migrants. In their culture you can’t drink, but here they seem to have a blast. They drink no less than the indigenous northern peoples,” said a resident of Nizhnevartovsk. “But they keep an eye on their women.” Everyone is wrapped from head to toe. They don’t talk to our people. They will buy their groceries and sneak into the apartment. They don’t even try to learn Russian, workers in the north complain.

Muslim women wear hijabs, something the city has become accustomed to. But, besides this, their men insist that women wear special Muslim swimsuits – burkinis – to the pools. This swimsuit covers your body from head to calves. Only the face, palms and feet remain exposed.

– One day I come to the pool, and there are women swimming there in all black. And not just one – several. The head seems to be covered, but without rubber caps, which violates hygiene rules,” says a visitor to the pool.

– They don’t wash with soap in the shower before going to the pool. The Koran forbids them from being naked even in front of representatives of their own sex. And try to get into such a robe with a wet body. It’s uncomfortable for them, but why should we suffer from this,” another visitor wrote on the pool’s page.

Upon learning of the incident, two swimming pools in the oil capital of Russia immediately banned swimming in a burkini. In response, the administration received complaints from representatives of the Muslim community. The men argued that the burkini is absolutely hygienic clothing. They are made of high quality elastic material. There is no need for a bathing cap: your hair is already securely gathered under a tight-fitting hood. As for ablutions before the session, the administration needs to allocate special booths for Muslim women.

The managers of sports facilities did not agree to such actions.

– In the operation of the pool, we are guided by GOST. The rules don’t say anything about the burkini, so we banned the use of this type of costume in the pool,” said Sergei Belyankin, head of the Olympia pool. The owner of another swimming center agrees with him.