The Geneva parliament voted on Thursday to effectively ban burkinis from public swimming pools, a move that has sparked debate over religious freedom and secularism. The legislation, passed by a vote of 83 to 53 with six abstentions, does not explicitly mention the burkini but defines acceptable swimwear as one- or two-piece suits extending no further than the knees and leaving the arms uncovered.
The new rules, stemming from proposals initially place forward by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), were debated as a matter of hygiene and a statement against perceived constraints on women, according to SRF. Although proponents framed the measure as upholding public order, opponents decried it as discriminatory and a form of stigmatization.
Caroline Renold of the Social Democratic Party (SP) characterized the debate as “a stigmatization of the Other, a xenophobic manipulation,” while fellow SP member Carole-Anne Kast argued that “any regulation regarding the female body is a patriarchal regulation.” Alia Chaker Mangeat of the Centre party countered by questioning the implications of opposing restrictions on the burkini, asking, “If the abolition of the burkini is a gesture of patriarchal domination, what about the burkini itself?”
The legislation’s passage does not necessarily complete the discussion. Kast attempted to introduce an amendment allowing swimwear designed for UV protection, but the effort failed. She indicated that the legal validity of the new rules will likely be challenged in court, stating to Tribune de Genève, “the courts will decide.”
The vote follows a similar debate in France, where burkini bans in some coastal towns were previously challenged and overturned by courts. The Geneva government had previously halted a similar ban proposal, ruling it unlawful, according to Swissinfo.ch.
The new law focuses on defining permitted swimwear rather than directly prohibiting the burkini, a tactic that has drawn criticism for its indirect approach. The legislation applies to both swimming pools and public bathing areas within the canton of Geneva.
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