CO-ED SWIMMING LESSONS IN GERMANY

A Muslim girl cannot skip co-ed swimming lessons because of religious prohibitions against wearing formfitting clothing, a German court ruled. The ruling means the 12-year-old girl must participate in swimming lessons starting next week. Citing religious reasons, the girl’s parents said they did not want their daughter to participate because her body would not be covered. Their attorney said the family plans to appeal. The parents rejected an offer last year from the girl’s teacher to allow her to swim in leggings and a T-shirt, saying the girl’s body would still be visible through the wet clothing. The Düsseldorf court concluded that because most of a swimming lesson takes place underwater, the girl’s body would largely remain obscured even in wet clothing. The school said it did not have the personnel to separate boys and girls in swimming lessons.