Hotel Visitors in Tunisia Surprised at Burkini Bans

Hotel Visitors in Tunisia Surprised at Burkini Bans

Some women visiting hotels in Tunisia are criticizing policies that ban a kind of swimwear known as a burkini.

The burkini is a piece of clothing used for swimming that covers the entire body except for the face, hands and feet. It is worn by some Muslim women who wish to demonstrate modesty¹. Burkinis are commonly seen on beaches across Tunisia.

But numerous larger hotels in coastal² towns have banned the swimwear from their pools. The policy shows a lasting³ European influence in the country. It is also evidence of divisions that exist between secular⁴ and conservative Tunisians.

On the website Tunisiabooking.com, at least 20 hotels advertise that the burkini is banned at their hotel, Reuters news agency reports.

Jannette Mensi recently stayed at the Marriott Hotel in the city of Sousse. She said hotel employees told her that because she was wearing a burkini, she had to get out of the main swimming pool and go to another one in the back. That pool is generally used by children.

She told Reuters that, as a Muslim woman, she felt the hotel was discriminating⁵ against her.

"I respect, I accept next to me a lady with a bikini, or someone drinking wine... I respect them, they should respect me," she said.

The Marriott hotel worker did not explain the reasons behind the ban. But Mensi has her own theory for the policy. "I told them: you are colonized⁶ from then until now," she said.

A Reuters reporter asked Marriott representatives about the incident involving Mensi. A spokesperson for the Sousse Pearl Marriott Resort & Spa apologized for what had happened. The spokesperson said the hotel would start permitting all adult visitors to use the main pool "no matter the swimwear they choose."

Burkini bans at Tunisian hotels date back to the 2000s and became more common after the 2011 revolution. At that time, more women started wearing the Muslim head covering called a hijab. The hijab was banned in the workplace during the 23-year rule of the country's ousted⁸ leader, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

The managing director of a 4-star hotel in the popular beach resort of Hammamet spoke⁷ to Reuters about the issue. The individual, who did not want to be named, said he banned the swimwear in 2008 following complaints from visitors.

"The last people I spoke to said that it is disgusting to swim in a pool with burkinis," the hotel managing director told Reuters.

The burkini bans have also been criticized online. In a widely shared TikTok video earlier this year, Emirati influencer Zainab Alsawalhi denounced the burkini-free Movenpick Hotel in Sousse for "discrimination and hate."

The Accor group, which owns Movenpick, did not answer questions sent by Reuters seeking a reaction to the criticism.

Words in This Story

modesty – n. being conservative in the way one dresses

secular – adj. not religious or controlled by a religious group

wine – n. an alcoholic⁹ drink made from grapes

manage – v. to do something or deal with something successfully

complaint – n. a statement that something is wrong or not satisfactory

disgusting – adj. extremely unpleasant

1 modesty   

n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素

参考例句：

• Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

4 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

5 discriminating   

a.有辨别能力的

参考例句：

• Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
• Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。

6 colonized   

开拓殖民地，移民于殖民地( colonize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The area was colonized by the Vikings. 这一地区曾沦为维京人的殖民地。
• The British and French colonized the Americas. 英国人和法国人共同在美洲建立殖民地。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

9 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。