The Columbia Association, which operates 23 pools in Howard, will join other communities that have made similar accommodations to create a more welcoming atmosphere for Muslims and other female swimmers.
BALTIMORE SUN When Shehlla Khan’s husband became ill, it fell on her to take their three children to the pool. But for Khan, who is Muslim, the task was difficult. The Columbia resident said she was concerned about people watching her swim in the conservative, cover-all dress required by Islamic dress codes, and thinking: “What’s wrong? Why can’t you take it off?”
So Khan, 39, brought the issue up with members of her Dar Al-Taqwa mosque in Ellicott City. The mosque, along with members of a faith-based county group, People Acting Together in Howard, met with the Columbia Association to create a twice-weekly, women-only swim time, a trial that is scheduled to be announced Tuesday.
New York City’s recreation and parks department offers a women-only swim time at the Metropolitan Recreation Center. Pools around Toronto and other cities have also offered similar options, according to news reports. And at a swimming pool in Seattle, Muslim woman have used brown paper to cover glass windows, providing privacy from the lobby.
Several private universities, including Harvard and George Washington, also have provided female-only swim times, with several hours a week set aside. But occasionally, such programs have run into opponents who suggest they unfairly cater to one group. At George Washington some complained, citing concerns over the program infringing on American liberties.
“It’s a positive thing,” said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Terrorist Front Group CAIR – Council on American-Islamic Relations. “Not everyone has the same needs. It’s just expanding the level of interaction with the local community and 
recognizing that people are different. You’re bringing people into your system who would otherwise be uncomfortable.”
Hooper said such programs are beneficial to communities attempting to reach out to an otherwise isolated minority. The reserved times usually are scheduled when facilities might be under-utilized, he said.
Raghid Shourbaji, president of the Howard County Muslim Council, said the need is growing because the county’s Muslim population is growing. He said another indoor pool in Jessup has a similar program, but he hopes the one in Columbia will be more convenient.
His organization, which has been in existence for about 10 years, and the county’s only mosque, Dar Al-Taqwa, are the only Muslim outlets in the county. They serve about 1,800 residents, based on mailing lists.
Safiyah Blake, a Columbia resident who is Muslim, has some practical reasons for using the women-only swim times. But she agreed the pool experience can often drive Islamic women away. “You can see people looking at you,” Blake said. The women-only pool times will “bridge the gap. My sisters and I can jump in.”
She plans to get out her burqini — a bathing suit that covers her arms and legs, and has a hood. The modest, cover-all swimsuit is often worn by Muslim women.
The women-only swim times will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the swim center. Depending on the success at the indoor pools, Cynthia Marshall of PATH said the group might try to extend the program to outdoor pools, which might take some additional consideration.
this is not a case of discrimination at all…that’s ridiculous and shows complete ignorance. This is just like the case of having a woman’s and men’s restroom, and women’s and men’s gym. If there are a group of men who feel they cannot benefit the use of the co-ed swimming pool for the reason of modesty in front of women (no matter their religion) then they also deserve some male-only swim time allotted to them.
Seeing women dressed in fully covered swim suits these days may seem strange to some people, ok, most people. When beach swimming became popular in the 1820′s women wore “swim dresses” and bonnets, and would swim amongst other women. (btw, this was in the USA, and they weren’t muslims) They were modest and God concious, and protected themselves from shame, and gossip. As time passed, did God lower His standard on “shame and modesty”? No, of course not! People did. As people saw others becoming less modest, they joined in on it. public display of sexuality has been growing like mold. It was because of Good ‘ol peer pressure. Nowadays we tell our children not to be sucummed by peer pressure, but when their daughters go out of the house half naked, they say…”Can you believe it, that’s what ALL the kids are wearing these days! – bye kids, have fun!” Now who are the strange one’s? The ones who have persevered through the peer pressure, preserving their modesty, or the ones who have succumbed to the peer pressure by baring their bodies and completely forgetting about the day that God will judge? As I remember this is a nation built on a belief in God.
I have a lot of respect for these women who behave with modesty. I’ll bet their fathers are proud of them. Where are the fathers who LIKE to see their daughters showing their bodies to strange men? They’re everywhere! Fathers don’t care! (I have a son in high school) I’ve seen the way their daughters are dressed. They obviously don’t mind their daughters dressed to attract boys’ hormones. How is it that the parents let their daughters dress the way they do? This goes for the rich, the poor, all nationalities and all religions. People say they believe in God – but where is their shame! They don’t actually believe they’ll be judged I guess. I’m pretty sure if public nudity was legal, that too would become a popular trend. There’s obviously no limit to what is acceptable…”they’re all doing it these days!” And the modest women are the strange ones. Go figure! May god help us all!
Monica, you are ignorant about Islam. You are not allowed to comment here again until you look at the Categories in the sidebar here called “WOMEN” and “CHILDREN”