Burkinis should be allowed in public pools, non-discrimination ombudsman says The ombudsman said banning the swimsuits is gender- and religion-based discrimination.

September 4, 2019   

(Yle) Kirsi Pimiä, the non-discrimination ombudsman, has recommended that Finland’s public swimming pools should permit the use of burkinis, the body-covering bathing suits sometimes used by Muslim women.

Pimiä said she became aware of cases of burkini-wearing women having been turned away from public swimming pools, even though the facilities were advised to allow the swimsuits.

In 2017, several swimming-related organisations — including the Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation and Aquatics Finland — also recommended that burkinis should be permitted in the country’s swimming halls.

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