British Waterpark Bans Bikinis to Appease Muslims-Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
WaterWold, a waterpark located in England, has banned bikinis and now requires that park goers wear “Islamically appropriate” clothing.
The Truth:
Rumors that WaterWorld has banned bikinis or now requires park goers to wear “Islamically appropriate” clothing there are false.
The flap started in 2015 when WaterWorld held a special “Sisters Only” event that allowed women of all faiths to use the park wearing clothing that covered their bodies. Typically, the waterpark requires all of its guests to wear bathing suits.
WaterWorld announced on Facebook that there would be designated areas of the park for people to pray in during the Sisters Only event in an effort to “attract ladies of all religions/beliefs as we invite you to visit our facility and enjoy its features whilst having the option of wearing attire that our normal operating procedures prevent.”
It’s important to note that bikinis were not banned during the event — and the event took place outside of the park’s normal operating hours anyway. Rather, customers were allowed to use the park wearing non-bathing suit attire during it.
The park also hosts “Males Only” nights that allow men to use the park “wearing attire that is considerate to all religions present.”
Reports of the waterpark that had banned bikinis or required that “Islamically appropriate” clothes be worn there went viral after the park released its special events schedule in 2015.
Then, shortly after the deadly terrorist shooting that left 50 dead at Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June 2016, the story was re-reported as “breaking” news by This is England under the headline, “British Waterpark Bans Bikinis and Demands Visitors Wear “Islamically Appropriate” Clothes.’” The story begins:
WaterWorld in Stoke-on-Trent plans to black out windows and provide a prayer room during a women-only night aimed at Muslims.
Only female lifeguards will patrol the park during the event, which has triggered a flood of complaints.
Staff will also “guard” the front entrance to “make sure that no males enter the facility”.
In a statement on its Facebook page, a spokesman for WaterWorld said the Sisters Only event would “attract ladies of all religions/beliefs as we invite you to visit our facility and enjoy its features whilst having the option of wearing attire that our normal operating procedures prevent”.
Conservative MP Philip Hollobone said: “I imagine there would be a lot of outrage if the boot was on the other foot and swimmers were told they had to dress appropriately in respect of Christians. I don’t see how this is different.”
So, given that the waterpark didn’t ban bikinis and didn’t require women to wear “Islamically appropriate” clothing, we’re calling this one fiction.