Islamic Court Bans Women from Beach

From Fox News:
An Islamic court banned women from swimming at the main beach in the capital to keep women from mingling with men, an official said Friday.

The ban applies only to the northern Mogadishu Leedo beach, where families usually go on weekends.

"We stopped women from swimming because it is against the teaching of Islam for women to mingle with men, especially while they are swimming," said Sheikh Farah Ali Hussein, chair of a northern Mogadishu Islamic court.

Miriam Isse watched others swimming in the Indian Ocean Friday.

"They cannot prevent us from our right to swim in the sea," she said. "What is wrong with us enjoying ourselves like men? That is clear discrimination."

Somali women usually swim fully clothed. Somali men, however, swim in trunks, at times bare-chested or wearing vests.

Hard-line Islamic leaders' militia have swept through most of southern Somalia since taking over Mogadishu in June. Their sometimes strict and often severe interpretation of Islam has raised the specter of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime, and contrasts with the moderate Islam that has dominated Somali culture for centuries. They have introduced public executions and floggings of convicts.

I feel a song coming on…

Mogadishu Girls (to the tune of California Girls)

In a Burqa, you can’t swim well
And it’s kinda hard to get a tan,
But at least the boys won’t try to stone you
While you’re layin’ out there on the sand.

The guys all say “Be modest!
You’re no Satanic Western ho!”
But you’ll likely die of heat prostration
Covered up in black from head to toe.

It must be fun to be an Islamic,
It must be fun to be an Islamic,
It must be fun to be an Islamic girl.

Summer days, they must be dreaded
As you sweat beneath the veil;
Don't take it off - you'll be beheaded
Or at the least wind up in jail.

Now the Mullah says men know best,
And that you should just stay out of sight.
Your supposed to carry babies;
Their job's to carry dynamite.

It must be fun to be an Islamic,
It must be fun to be an Islamic,
It must be fun to be an Islamic girl.