University Creates Female Swim Hour for Muslim Women, Anti-Muslim Alarmists Freak Out

With one of the largest Muslim student populations in the country, last March George Washington University set aside one hour per week that the pool would only be open to women. The decision was an attempt to allow Muslim female students a chance to swim without breaking Islam’s rules about modesty. For one hour a week, a tarp hides the pool from onlookers and a female lifeguard is on duty. But recently, fears of “creeping Sharia” -- the idea that Muslim custom is slowly taking over American life -- has raised an online hell storm over the all-female swim-hour.

This is a situation where a school has decided to allow Muslim women, a demographic whose gender and religion means their participation in sports is relatively low, to be physically active and take advantage of the facilities that every other student is free to use, and which their tuition already pays for. One hour a week is not a big inconvenience to anyone, and for a small group of women, it means the ability to swim. "Although I wouldn't really mind, it would be satisfying to me religiously to swim only with girls," a Muslim student told the GW Hatchet, who had given up her swim regimen when she arrived at George Washington.

Of course, the irrational frenzy on the Internet can’t understand why normal Americans are being forced to change their lifestyle to accommodate someone else -- something our country has been doing for religious minorities for centuries. Under pressure, George Washington University is reconsidering the policy -- meaning a kind and sensible policy, despite campus support, could be derailed by the intolerance of people carrying the torch of anti-Muslim intolerance. Seriously, flip their logic around and you’re arguing that in accordance with "our ways," we should force women either to disregard their religion and expose their bodies to men, or not exercise. That sounds like an oppressive environment for Muslim women and no one else.

Tell GWU to continuing offering Muslim women the chance to swim.

Photo credit: Foxtongue