Outdoor pool in Salorno introduces weekly swimming hour for Muslim women

Supporters and Critics

Salorno's mayor, Roland Lazzeri, explained that the lessee can decide independently on such additional offerings. The initiative is therefore a decision of the operator and not of the municipality.

The senator of the governing South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP), Julia Unterberger, assessed the pool's initiative as a "gesto di sensibilità e inclusione sociale" (gesture of sensitivity and social inclusion). "Non separa queste donne dalla società, ma crea anzi un'opportunità in più di partecipare alla vita sociale", said Unterberger. The initiative enables women who would otherwise likely not visit the swimming pool to leave the house, meet others, do sports, and use a public space. Unterberger also emphasized: "L'emancipazione non si sviluppa con l'esclusione, ma con più libertà e più partecipazione".

Criticism also came from the South Tyrolean Freedom Party (Südtiroler Freiheitliche), which is represented in the provincial government. Freedom Party chairman Roland Stauder saw the measure as a further sign of a failed integration policy. The Freedom Party stated that such regulations promote an image of women based on oppression, veiling, and coercion. Stauder also criticized that left-wing and feminist groups downplay or ignore problematic developments related to political Islam, while being more critical of men locally.

Burkini and Framework Conditions

The debate over the swimming hour is causing controversy throughout Italy. In addition to the statements from Lega, SVP, and the South Tyrolean Freedom Party, Italian media reported on the offer in the small town in South Tyrol. A burkini is a full-body swimsuit that covers the entire body except for the face, hands, and feet.

Outlook

Supporters of the initiative point out that the additional offering reaches women who could not use the public pool during regular opening hours for religious or cultural reasons. They see the fixed hour in the evening as a practical way to enable sport and encounters in a protected setting. Comparable models exist in several European countries, although their design and public visibility vary.

Critics, on the other hand, see the risk of entrenching religious separation in public space. They argue that a dedicated swimming hour could prevent encounters between different groups and reinforce existing reservations rather than reduce them. Supporters counter that inclusion can arise not only in mixed formats but also in deliberately accessible ones.

It remains to be seen how demand will develop in the coming weeks and whether the offering will be made permanent after a trial phase. Observers in South Tyrol also expect reactions from Rome and from Italian social welfare organizations, as the initiative has sent political ripples beyond the regional level. The municipality of Salorno has so far limited itself to noting that the decision lies with the lessee.