The biggest swimming pool in Russia's Muslim-majority North Caucasus region has banned women, prompting anger from rights activists and others who have accused the sports complex of discrimination.
Emer McCarthy reports.
The biggest swimming pool in Russia's North Caucasus bans women
It's a decision marred in controversy.
The biggest swimming pool in Russia's Muslim-majority North Caucasus region announced on social media on Monday (January 20) that women are banned from using the complex.
The Anzhi Arena spa-complex near Makhachkala said its decision to deny entry to women, who were previously only admitted on Fridays for women-only sessions, was financially motivated.
But local women's rights activists have accused it of discrimination.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MAHACHKALA RESIDENT, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SVETLANA ANOHINA, SAYING: "In fact, I had a real urge to go to this swimming pool when I found out it was off limits to me.
My personal, human and feminine space has become smaller yet again.
I feel quite constrained, so for me it's a sore and personal topic." The decision has sparked debate among residents, where traditional social values and conservative interpretations of Islam often put it at odds with large parts of European Russia.
But although it's common in the region to find sports facilities offering men and women access on separate days of the week, activists say a complete ban on women using the pool goes against the Russian constitution.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MAHACHKALA RESIDENT, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SVETLANA ANOHINA, SAYING: "I understood that we can't leave it like this and immediately began consulting with lawyers that I know.
Together, we're going to fight for the rights of those in the city." Three women have filed a complaint to the regional Prosecutor's Office accusing the complex of unconstitutional gender-based discrimination.