Veils swapped for bikinis

[MossadConspiracy]

Veils swapped for bikinis on Egypt's women-only beaches

Agence France-Presse

Posted date: August 16, 2008

MARINA, Egypt -- Islamic hymns fade out giving way to Arabic pop music as women remove their veils to reveal bikinis or one-piece swimsuits at a religiously correct beach for women only in Egypt.

Welcome to "La Femme," French for "The Woman," in the posh resort of Marina, where women can lounge on sun beds, tan, join in a daily belly-dance contest, or breastfeed their babies shielded by barriers of palm tree branches from the prying eyes of men.

The branches even stretch into the Mediterranean Sea to give maximum shelter to the women, who have faced the constraints of growing conservatism in this mostly Muslim country.

"Sometimes I turn around and look behind to make sure there are no men. And, thank God, there aren't any," said Safa, a Cairo resident in her 60s, who enjoys the privacy of La Femme beach club.

"It is 'haram' (forbidden in Islam) to strut around in front of men in a swimsuit," she said, as she basked in the sun. "It is an excellent idea to have a beach reserved for women only."

Most of the women at the beach are upper-class like Safa, who can afford to dish out 14 dollars (nine euros) on weekdays and 16 dollars on the weekend for the privilege of entering the gated beach club to preserve their modesty.

A growing number of Egyptian women from all walks of life have opted for strict Muslim guidelines such as wearing scarves to cover their heads and conservative clothes with high necklines and long sleeves.

Marwa is among those who have chosen to abide by the Islamic dress code.

"Being a veiled woman I have no other option but to go to a women only beach," she said as she slips a short yellow beach dress over her swimsuit.

A few seats away Sara, 20, is relaxing in an itsy-bitsy bikini that she donned after removing her Muslim scarf.

"It is wonderful here. We don't have to put up with the prying eyes of men. But on the mixed beaches it is unbearable," said Sara.

At mixed beaches where women and men are allowed, many girls shield themselves by wearing so-called “sharia” (Islamic law) swimsuits that cover them from the neck down to the ankles and look more live diving suits.

"The 'sharia' swimsuits are not practical," said Marwa, who says she is as happy as a "fish in water" at La Femme, where she feels she can be herself.

The only moment of concern for Marwa is when young men riding jet skis try to inch their way closer to the coast to sneak a view of the women.

To ensure the women's "sanctity," guards at the entrance to the club search all the beach bags to keep out any cameras that could be used to take pictures of bikini-clad bathers that could end up on the Internet.

La Femme is not the sole women-only beach to make a brisk business in Egypt. The first of its kind, Yachmak, opened in 2004.

At the time, its founder Walid Mustafa told reporters: "At the end of the day we belong to a conservative society. We cannot forget that."

"We need to respond to the needs of the community."

In the view of sociologist Dalal al-Bizri, Egypt is gripped by "a sort of religious hysteria." Beaches like La Femme "reflect the general mood in the country," where some 80 percent of women today wear the veil, she said.

Egypt was once was one of the most liberal Arab countries and the first to give women the franchise in 1956.

But after an increase in religious conservatism in recent decades -- the key opposition group is now the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood that promotes sharia -- bare-headed women have become a small minority and many of them are Coptic Christians, who account for only a slice of the country's 80 million people.

Officially, however, wearing the head veil is not required, as it is in strictly conservative Muslim nations such as Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Many women themselves say they seek out segregated beaches like La Femme out of religious considerations, but they have their critics.

A security guard posted a few yards outside the beach club argued that such places catering to the whims of women were just another form of "decadence."

A motorist agreed.

"These women should fear God, not men," he said, asking why they could not keep the belly-dancing for home and family events.

AFP article

Marina is an awesome resort

[dezhen]

We have some ladies-only beaches here in Sydney which are a big hit with the younger female Muslim crowd too.

dawood

[sumi]

bikinis are a bit much though..

awra is still awra..

[Houri]

I would never be able to do that, even at a "woman's only beach". You never know. And plus, I hope they are covering at least from their navel to knees.

[ComfortOFillusion]

Subhan Allah, Why are we so pressed in imitating the west so much?

“You will follow the example of those who preceded you, hand-span for hand-span, and arm-length for arm-length. Even if they entered into a lizard's hole, you would surely enter it!” He ! was asked, “Do you mean the Jews and Christians?” He replied, “Who else are the (previous) people?” [Recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim and others].

[jinnzaman]

What's the awrah of females in front of other females?

[Summers]

jinnzaman said

What's the awrah of females in front of other females?

Navel to knee

[navid]

dezhen said

We have some ladies-only beaches here in Sydney which are a big hit with the younger female Muslim crowd too.

dawood

Where? I've lived in Sydney for years and I've never heard of ladies-only beaches here. I doubt they are in Manly or Bondi.

[dezhen]

navid said

Where? I've lived in Sydney for years and I've never heard of ladies-only beaches here. I doubt they are in Manly or Bondi.

Coogee has a ladies only beach and is the most popular here that I know of and it is just down the road from Bondi. My wife (who is a hijabi) has gone there a number of times with other hijabi friends.

dawood

[ChotooMotoo]

ComfortOFillusion said

Subhan Allah, Why are we so pressed in imitating the west so much?

Your post makes no sense. How are women only beaches, where women can enjoy feeling sun on their skin, the smell and feel of sea water, an immitation of the west? Are western women the only ones allowed to enjoy the creation of Allah (swt) without the restrictions of hijab?

[sumi]

ChotooMotoo said

Your post makes no sense. How are women only beaches, where women can enjoy feeling sun on their skin, the smell and feel of sea water, an immitation of the west? Are western women the only ones allowed to enjoy the creation of Allah (swt) without the restrictions of hijab?

you make it sound so awesome..

i've forgotten what it feels like... to feel sun on my skin and wind in my hair..

[ComfortOFillusion]

ChotooMotoo said

Your post makes no sense. How are women only beaches, where women can enjoy feeling sun on their skin, the smell and feel of sea water, an immitation of the west? Are western women the only ones allowed to enjoy the creation of Allah (swt) without the restrictions of hijab?

Taking off the veil to wear a bikini. Hrmm..You really need to get into one to feel the air and the smell of the sea. I never knew Niqabi sisters were so oppressed.

[Revert]

ComfortOFillusion said

Taking off the veil to wear a bikini. Hrmm..You really need to get into one to feel the air and the smell of the sea. I never knew Niqabi sisters were so oppressed.

Why do you care? Its a womens issue affecting women.

[ChotooMotoo]

ComfortOFillusion said

Taking off the veil to wear a bikini. Hrmm..You really need to get into one to feel the air and the smell of the sea. I never knew Niqabi sisters were so oppressed.

Wearing a bikini isn't the point. The point is for the women to have a place where they can enjoy the beach without the veil. If you deprive women of any chance to feel the sun on their face, and the wind in their hair, then you are oppressing them.

Ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder? I knew niqabi's who experienced it year round becuase unlike in their home countries, Western countries don't generally have facilities for women only.

[ComfortOFillusion]

Revert said

Why do you care? Its a womens issue affecting women.

Assalamo Alaikum,

because it could be my sister or mother?

ChotooMotoo said

Wearing a bikini isn't the point. The point is for the women to have a place where they can enjoy the beach without the veil. If you deprive women of any chance to feel the sun on their face, and the wind in their hair, then you are oppressing them.

Ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder? I knew niqabi's who experienced it year round becuase unlike in their home countries, Western countries don't generally have facilities for women only.

So your telling me that sisters who wear niqaab's get seasonal affective disorder, which has nothing to do with going to the beach by the way. I also don't think that Seasonal Affective Disorder is sexist. It also happens with men.

I'm assuming niqaab is pretty much oppressing women. A sister who lives in the middle of the desert without any body of water surrounding them. They are being oppressed year long. I'm sorry I don't agree. I'm not saying to lock up your wife in a room and not let her out. What does having the wind flow through your hair have to do with anything?

Having a private pool in your house is one thing. Going to a all women beach and showing your awrah , yes even amongst women is another. Women actually feel comfortable with this? I wonder what they did in the past. Khair, its up to them. Allahu Alam. I wouldn't recommended it to my wife.