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’ve lived in France. The French largely just do what they like and pay lip service to EU rules. The levels of openly expressed racism against people of North African descent and Muslims would shock most Brits. I think it was probably only the UK that followed any EU rules.

you need to be able to speak the language reasonable fluently to pick up on it.

I've lived in France for close to 20 years. I speak French fluently, and am white. I have on more than one occasion experienced racism on the basis of being 'English' (British is just one of my nationalities, but I do speak English with my dc).

It's not just racism, the French are very 'othering', including with people from different regions within France, or even the village next door. Rural France is very, very tribal (particularly among the older generations, the young are better)

I wonder if you'd be so quick to meet and talk to people 'who have a different perspective than you' when their 'perspective' basically infringes upon your right to merely exist.

Bigotry is not a case of 'they do things differently there'.

@CatherinedeBourgh

It's not just racism, the French are very 'othering', including with people from different regions within France, or even the village next door. Rural France is very, very tribal (particularly among the older generations, the young are better)

I’d agree but I don’t think that sort behaviour is simply a French thing….it might not have been as extreme but I can recall plenty of “othering” and tribalism going on in the part of the deeply rural UK where I was brought up, I only hope it’s better now.

Do you think a woman with uncovered hair would be treated fairly and with politeness in Saudi Arabia?

What??
By your reasoning, I should be ok with the owner’s comment because I left asking about the shared pool til the last minute?
No, babes. That’s not what this is about.

Babes …. passive aggressive much?🤮

I think what he said is appalling but is a not particularly unusual attitude in France. You are not going to change his views by not going on your holiday.

I'm gonna need you to tell me when exactly I came out in support of the Saudis.

Bigotry is bigotry. There's a reason a lot of MNetters are very vocal about refusing to holiday or take up job offers in the UAE/Saudi Arabia.

Stop being disingenuous, I know you’ve googled it already.

Besides, common usage of 'Islamophobia' (and equally 'transphobia') is as a derogatory phrase to enable critics to be told to STFU.