Islamophobia Watch

"A council has sparked fury by virtually shutting a swimming pool on Sunday afternoons for 'Muslim-only' sessions.... Croydon Council in South London runs the sessions at Thornton Heath leisure centre between 4.45pm and 6.45pm. Similar slots are laid on for Muslim women outside opening hours, where bathers must be covered from the neck down to the ankle. Locals who flock to the area's only major leisure centre each week are furious. Member Daniel Foley, 44, said: 'I turned up and saw a sign saying it was closing early for Muslim afternoon – I couldn't believe it'."

Sun, 8 December 2006