Ripoll bans burkini in public swimming pool

Ripoll, in northern Catalonia, has banned the use of the burkini in the town’s public swimming pool.

The announcement was made on Monday by the mayor, Sílvia Orriols, leader of the far-right pro-independence party Aliança Catalana.

In a post on the social network X, Orriols cited security concerns as the reason for the ban.

“I recommend other Catalan town halls do the same. This has gone too far,” she said.

The ban contradicts the Catalan equality law approved in 2020, which permits the use of full-body swimsuits such as burkinis.

That law also allows practices like topless sunbathing to promote “individual freedom and gender equality.”

Earlier in 2023, Orriols sent a letter to the equality minister requesting a ban on full-body swimsuits in public pools.

What is Aliança Catalana?

Aliança Catalana is a far-right pro-independence party that entered the Catalan parliament for the first time in the May 2024 elections, winning two seats.

Its leader, Sílvia Orriols, rose to prominence as the mayor of Ripoll, where she was elected in 2023.

The party is known for its hardline stance on migration and has frequently promoted Islamophobic slogans.

According to the latest CEO election poll, if elections were held now, the party could increase its representation from 2 seats to between 10 and 11 seats.