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Rolf Haid / dpa
In public swimming pools in Geneva, Switzerland, the clothing regulations are to be relaxed in the future and wearing a burkini will also be allowed.
The city council decided on Monday evening, reports include the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (“NZZ”) and “20 Minuten”.
Accordingly, there had previously been specific clothing regulations.
For women, a "bathing suit made of one or two pieces, up to the knee at most" and "bare arms" were specified.
Now the city parliament has voted 38 to 33 in favor of swimwear only having to be “appropriate and functional”.
According to »NZZ«, it would also be possible for women to wear a burkini »topless«.
The vote was preceded by a lengthy debate.
An NGO had collected 1,500 votes for “inclusive swimming”.
For supporters of the rule change, the burkini is "just a simple bathing suit," writes the SRF.
The ban marginalizes an already vulnerable population.
Opponents, on the other hand, cite hygiene concerns and fear a »kneeling« before radical Islam, writes the »Tagblatt« .
SVP collects signatures
According to SRF, the Mayor of Geneva and head of the sports department Marie Barbey-Chappuis (Die Mitte) had also pleaded for a »no« to the new clothing regulations: »In most cases, wearing the burkini is not the choice of women, but the result of one patriarchal society fighting the left,” she argued—unsuccessfully.
However, the decision is not yet final: the conservative-populist Swiss People's Party (SVP) has already announced that it will not accept the vote and will hold a referendum.
If she gets the necessary 3,200 signatures, the people of Geneva will have to vote on the case.
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