In France, the Council of State is expected to rule in the coming days on the appeal of the Municipality of Grenoble against the suspension of the regulation allowing women to swim in swimming pools in hijab swimsuits.
A session of the Council of State was held today to consider the objection of the Municipality of Grenoble to the suspension of the regulation allowing women to swim in swimming pools in the city of Grenoble.
During the session, which lasted nearly two hours, Grenoble Mayor Eric Piolle showed a variety of swimsuits, including a hijab swimsuit.
Speaking after the hearing, Olivier Coudray, lawyer for the City of Grenoble, said he did not understand how the wearing of one type of swimsuit instead of another could have any impact on the normal functioning of the public service.
“I think users of public services have a right to ask that their religious beliefs be respected,” Coudray said.
A rally was organized yesterday in Paris in support of the Muslim Women’s Union in Grenoble, which has been fighting for the acceptance of the hijab swimsuit in pools for the last few years.
Process
On May 16, the Grenoble City Council amended the regulations for public swimming pools, introducing a dress code that includes the hijab swimsuit.
As of June 1, this regulation, which was to come into force, had been challenged in court by the Governor of Isere on the instructions of Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
On May 25, the Administrative Court of Grenoble suspended the new Grenoble municipal pool rules allowing swimsuits with hijab.
The Court found this article “contrary to the neutrality of the public service”.
Grenoble Mayor Eric Piolle had announced that they would appeal the court’s decision to the Council of State
France takes hijab swimsuit debate to top court
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