To think this is fucking crazy

[itstheendoftheworldasweknowitnow]

We’re en route to a holiday rental in France. I wasn’t sure if the pool was shared or not between other guests so emailed the owner to ask. This is his reply - which I put in to google translate
Could you tell me if sharing the swimming pool with us who occupy the ground floor bothers you and for what reason? Recently we refused the rental because the wife and the two young daughters were veiled; are you english or muslim? We do not want you to make the trip and see yourself refused access to our property for reasons of displaying religious beliefs which are very resented by the neighborhood.

Fuck Fuck Fuck
What the hell do I do?
I am not a Muslim.
I am also not a racist.

I think this is kind of bs.

We all know how these products come to us. Slave labour in factories. Slaves in mines, who will die young. Child labour.

People get all het up about historic slavery and virtue signal about it, and act as if people in the past could somehow live outside of the economic systems they found themselves in.

As if we don't make our peace doing the same by pushing it out of mind.

Good grief. I’m not even white and I’m not prepared to sacrifice my holiday, he would just have to suck it up.

How do you think poc function if they have to go home every time they meet a racist?

Burka ban or otherwise, the owner is plainly racist. They asked if you are English OR Muslim, as though one can’t be both.

If you have paid there is little you can do about this. But I would notify Booking.com and write a scathing review after I left.

Ah, yes, the two distinct categories of human beings: English and Muslim.

Everyone glossing over the obvious racism is being disingenuous. Would go, try to enjoy your holiday for now (and not let on that you are upset) but then write a scathing review.
Consider also reporting to the booking site.

I am neither English nor Muslim but I suspect this person would have a problem with me because I am brown.

Just go.In my experience (and my in laws are European, lived there for many years) it is far more acceptable to say that sort of thing there than here in UK. You stand to gain literally nothing by taking the moral high ground here.

How did m pyou booki it? If via Booking.com or similar mayb you can cancel via them

apologies for typos. Brok phone screen.

We've all probably stayed in loads of places with racist owners but didn't know.

I wonder why asking if the pool is shared led him to jump to that question!?

OP doesn’t want to cancel it, she just wants to appear to take the moral high ground without actually taking any action.

Just enjoy your hols. You don’t usually mix with the owners anyway, as they normally live off site. None of us know who we walk amongst on holiday, or anywhere really.

Have you read the post? They will be sharing the pool with the owners

Yes, I have many Muslim friends who are English. This would bother me- would you get a refund if you were to cancel?

I agree with the ‘go anyway’ PPs. If the Islamic rules around swimming pools mean that the owners and guests could not enjoy the pool together in the usual congenial manner, then this is different to saying something like ‘no POC can visit’. It is more analogous to someone who is vegan (perhaps for religious reasons) insisting on going to a steakhouse which only serves meat or someone who does eat meat insisting that the whole steakhouse is reserved exclusively for them at some times.

I wonder what question you actually asked as the response is very odd. And also that you would only find out about this when on the way.

No, the host has stated he would refuse entry. I wouldn’t make them share space with an openly racist host.

The problem with leaving a review is that it’s also helpful to the kind of people who feel the same way he does.

I think it would be better to raise the matter with booking.com

This is surely illegal! It would be in the UK. You need to report this to relevant authorities

Not read the whole thread….but an alternative interpretation:

Pool is shared between Airbnb and the owner’s home. In some circumstances (inc ‘veiled’ Muslim family) the women wouldn’t be able to use the pool or be ‘unveiled’ poolside if there were non-related men there too. This would lead to either the owner not being able to use his pool, or the venting family having a very poor holiday. If he’s had this issue before, he might be keen to avoid going through it again

OP, hope you’re having a wonderful time

Maybe read the full thread. It is in fact illegal to wear any face covering in France, be it religious veil, helmet or balaclava… and this is what the owner is referring to.

Tbh, in your position I would have done the same, because I wouldn't want my holiday ruined by some bloke passive-aggressively getting out of the pool every time I approached it. But seriously- how common is it for family groups on holiday to be all male? I mean, sure, it's possible, but if it was something that could mean you might not be able to use the pool, would you just risk it, or would you check in advance? Don't pretend to yourself he wasn't taking advantage of your good nature. It's got nothing today with "hating on other people because of their different beliefs". But, in your own words, you do you.

Although it is racist, he isn't alone in the racism he is speaking about the whole community where this rental is. It's the equivalent of western people travelling to Saudi Arabia and being told they must wear head coverings or face discrimination/ violence from the locals. In annidela world everyone would be accepted wherever they go but in many countries this is not the case for various reasons.

They were not passive aggressive, maybe that's what you assumed, but they were quite kind and didn't make a fuss. I also didn't say they were all male, but that there were three males in the family, t the females stayed in the pool with us when we were around. You obviously made assumptions based on your experience or rather lack of it, maybe that's why there is so many misunderstandings out there, because people prefer to assume the worst rather than chat.
Being kind is not an inconvenience to me, but if you struggle, then it's your problem.

Muslims are NOT a race, they follow a religion.

The owner referred to VEILS from the translation which seems to point to him having a problem with burqas. Muslim women and girls are not required to completely cover themselves by Islam so it’s not religious discrimination either.

I don’t think it’s a positive thing to condone women and young girls being taught that they must completely cover themselves up to prevent men being sexually attracted to them and being unable to control themselves sexually assaulting them.

I don't think being anti racist is 'having London values'. Surely it's just being a decent person. Please report this guy to Air BnB.

No i am not