Largest Swimming Pool in Russia's Muslim South Bans Women
2020-01-23
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1The largest swimming pool in Russia's Muslim-majority North Caucasus area has banned all women from using the pool.
2Rights groups and others criticized the new policy, calling it discrimination.
3The pool is part of a large sports and spa center near Makhachkala, capital of the Russian republic of Dagestan.
4The center announced its policy change Monday on the Instagram social media service.
5"From Jan. 20 onwards attendance of the pool is open only to men," the message said.
6Three women from Dagestan brought an official complaint to the local Prosecutor's Office, Reuters news agency reported.
7The complaint states that the ban violates the constitution because it discriminates based on gender.
8However, the operators of the pool said they made the decision for financial reasons.
9The center explained on Instagram that previously, women were permitted to visit the pool on Fridays for woman-only sessions.
10The Instagram messages were reported by Russia's state-operated RIA news agency.
11The center said that very few women came to visit on Fridays.
12Because of this lack of business, "the difficult decision was made that keeping days for women open in our pool was not viable," the pool operators said on Instagram.
13Fatima Abdulkhalimova is a 31-year-old former professional swimmer and a swim teacher at the pool.
14She questioned that reasoning.
15She noted that if having women-only days was not working financially, the pool could return to its earlier system.
16In the past, men and women could share the pool at the same time.
17Abdulkhalimova added that she thinks the decision has something to do with religion.
18"I believe it is because a lot of religious guys come here," she said.
19In the North Caucasus, many people hold traditional social and religious beliefs.
20It is common for sports centers in the area to separate the days of use for men and women.
21But activists say a complete ban on women violates Russia's constitution.
22One of the women who brought an official complaint is Svetlana Anokhina.
23She is the editor of a locally-based internet website that addresses women's rights issues.
24She told Reuters the practice of separating public spaces by gender was on the rise in the area.
25"I have a daughter here and she has three daughters too. I'm angry because... I'm afraid for them. I don't want them to live in a special ghetto for women," Anokhina said.
26Another woman who said she had often used the pool said she had been refused a membership pass last month.
27Commenting on Instagram, the woman wrote that the pool's operators told her she couldn't buy a pass because there was not enough locker room space for men.
28I'm Bryan Lynn.
1The largest swimming pool in Russia's Muslim-majority North Caucasus area has banned all women from using the pool. 2Rights groups and others criticized the new policy, calling it discrimination. 3The pool is part of a large sports and spa center near Makhachkala, capital of the Russian republic of Dagestan. The center announced its policy change Monday on the Instagram social media service. "From Jan. 20 onwards attendance of the pool is open only to men," the message said. 4Three women from Dagestan brought an official complaint to the local Prosecutor's Office, Reuters news agency reported. The complaint states that the ban violates the constitution because it discriminates based on gender. 5However, the operators of the pool said they made the decision for financial reasons. The center explained on Instagram that previously, women were permitted to visit the pool on Fridays for woman-only sessions. The Instagram messages were reported by Russia's state-operated RIA news agency. 6The center said that very few women came to visit on Fridays. Because of this lack of business, "the difficult decision was made that keeping days for women open in our pool was not viable," the pool operators said on Instagram. 7Fatima Abdulkhalimova is a 31-year-old former professional swimmer and a swim teacher at the pool. She questioned that reasoning. She noted that if having women-only days was not working financially, the pool could return to its earlier system. In the past, men and women could share the pool at the same time. 8Abdulkhalimova added that she thinks the decision has something to do with religion. "I believe it is because a lot of religious guys come here," she said. 9In the North Caucasus, many people hold traditional social and religious beliefs. It is common for sports centers in the area to separate the days of use for men and women. But activists say a complete ban on women violates Russia's constitution. 10One of the women who brought an official complaint is Svetlana Anokhina. She is the editor of a locally-based internet website that addresses women's rights issues. She told Reuters the practice of separating public spaces by gender was on the rise in the area. 11"I have a daughter here and she has three daughters too. I'm angry because... I'm afraid for them. I don't want them to live in a special ghetto for women," Anokhina said. 12Another woman who said she had often used the pool said she had been refused a membership pass last month. Commenting on Instagram, the woman wrote that the pool's operators told her she couldn't buy a pass because there was not enough locker room space for men. 13I'm Bryan Lynn. 14Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. 15We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 16_____________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18spa - n. a place where people go to improve their health by exercising or bathing in special water 19complaint - n. a statement that something is wrong or unacceptable 20viable - adj. effective and able to be successful 21ghetto - n. an area of a city where people of a particular race or religion live, especially a poor area 22locker - n. a small space in a public area where personal belongings can be kept