Albufeira apartments manager ejects British women from swimming pool for wearing 'burkinis'

Two British holidaymakers have spoken of their 'humiliation' and being banned from the swimming pool at an Albufeira hotel or apartment complex as they were wearing burkinis which they were told were "not acceptable."

Maryya Dean from Chessington, and her sister-in-law Hina, told the UK’s Mirror newspaper that they were forced to walk from the pool area, back to their apartment and were told that if they wanted to swim, they "must wear a bikini to abide by Portuguese culture."

The July 21st incident left the sisters "horrified", with Marrya, who suffers with bipolar disorder, saying the week holiday was supposed to be a relaxing getaway - but instead, they all were affected by what happened.

The apartment had a shared pool with other units, ideal for Marrya and her four children, plus her sister-in-law and other relatives.

"Given my cultural background I was wearing a burkini. I was approached by the building security manager as someone apparently had made a complaint that I was not wearing a bikini and therefore it was not appropriate for me to be in the pool.

"I was not allowed to wear the swimming gear in which I am comfortable and that was actually made for women like me to wear."

Marrya asked the manager to show her a sign which said ‘only bikinis could be worn,’ but of course, there wasn’t one.

"We were embarrassed as we came out of the pool with four children and people were watching us like we'd committed a crime."

Marrya's sister-in-law, Hina, also was in the pool wearing a 'covered swim suit.' She said they wore more modest swimsuits for a reasons of religion, culture, confidence and comfort.

The two women said they were the only family using the pool but that people watched the incident from their balconies which made them feel embarrassed.

Maryya said they didn't feel able to use the pool for the rest of their holiday, despite soaring temperatures.

According to statements made by the president of the Algarve Hoteliers Association, Elidérico Viegas, to Jornal de Notícias, Marrya Dean's charges "have no basis" and the president states that he is not aware of "any complaint filed at a hotel in the region."

Viegas, displaying his mastery of public relations, then accused the visitors of fraud: “in England, complaints are generated by private entities who earn commission and those organisations gather clients and feed complaints that don’t exist to get compensation - as in recent cases of alleged food poisoning that have led to court proceedings."

The Association of Hoteliers of the Algarve’s official statement is that the British are trying it on by presenting complaints for compensation, despite no compensation claim being mentioned.

The Algarve is "tolerant and open to all cultures," added Viegas, unless you are a British birkini wearer, it seems.

Marrya and family, 'a ruined holiday'

Comments  

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+2 #11 AL 2017-08-07 09:46

There is an hygiene code at public swimming pools and of course you cannot enter a swimming pool fully clothed. This woman was told to get out of the pool because she wasn't wearing the correct gear for a swimming pool. And that was that no big deal. Islamophobia? in the Algarve? lol. Politically incorrect maybe but then who gives a stuff of being politically correct.

+2 #10 AL 2017-08-07 09:38

Quoting Steve.O:

Portugal is so backward on so many levels that we have no idea whether the original complaint to the manager was triggered by Islamaphobia, anti-Britishness or a mid-range 'Meet the Ancestors' reading on the Fitzpatrick Skin colour chart. Or as is more likely - a combination. That said the manager had no excuse about not knowing these were British Islamics as he had told SEF when they arrived!

I suspect you will always have a reason to complain but complaining about racism and the politically correct fashionable term Islamophobia in Portugal is pushing it a bit. I guess you also speak for yourself when it comes to anti-Britishness in Portugal. If you are not treated well in Portugal might be a reflection of your attitude towards the local population.

+2 #9 André Silva 2017-08-06 13:00

A sra. que vá usar a sua burka e o seu burkini para o Afeganistão, Paquistão ou outros paises com termo em ão, o sr. Director que teve a coragem de o fazer esteve muito bem, concordo em pleno, quem quer, quer, se não quer não come.

+1 #8 Johnny Algarve 2017-08-06 11:50

I find it interesting that this woman posts a pic to the world where she is not in a burka and wearing a v-neck shirt. Yet she alleges to wear a burkini in the pool. I call bull on this story.

As to you Brits, I love how you complain about the Portuguese culture and make wild accusations about imagined slights. If you don't like it, move on. If you can't abide by Portuguese culture, stay on your cold, wet island, you arses!

+1 #7 Egon 2017-08-06 11:35

‘it’s those damn Brits, trying to screw us again

+3 #6 Sarah 007 2017-08-04 09:42

I agree with the Portugese culture. You can not please everybody however if you go to a different country you abide by their rules. Same as if us Westeners went to a Muslim country, like Dubia etc. The difference is they were told off, in Dubia you get arrested. Simple.

0 #5 Steve.O 2017-08-02 20:22

Portugal is so backward on so many levels that we have no idea whether the original complaint to the manager was triggered by Islamaphobia, anti-Britishness or a mid-range 'Meet the Ancestors' reading on the Fitzpatrick Skin colour chart. Or as is more likely - a combination. That said the manager had no excuse about not knowing these were British Islamics as he had told SEF when they arrived!

+5 #4 Diedre 2017-08-02 11:27

No doubt many of us are looking forward to the full roll out of the Livro das Reclamacoes website - at present just the larger Utilities are on it.
Years late but justified in a 'machismo' culture that still has no concept of Customer Rights. Making a complaint being seen even nowadays as an offence against someone's honour - a Denunciation - as we see so clearly with 'Arse' Viegas's response. Not the slightest concern. Being online will also allow tourists who may have returned to their homelands - as presumably these burkini women have - to complain.

http://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/livro-de-reclamacoes-online-retira-direitos-aos-consumidores-denuncia-deco

-1 #3 C Saunders 2017-08-02 09:57

Absolutely shameful behaviour. The place (if this is genuine) should be named and reprimanded. There is no room for this behaviour.

+9 #2 Ed 2017-08-01 22:01

Quoting dw:

Why no details on which hotel complex?

None have been relased in the 15 places this story has been published - so far.
Maybe this is on lawyer's instructions, or perhaps this story is a hoax.
I love Viegas' response, he really is such an arse.

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