Two workers from the concessionaire company that manages the Benicalap municipal swimming pool, in Valencia, have been arrested for a hate crime after a complaint filed by a woman when they prevented her from access because she was wearing a headscarf.
The detainees are two men aged 32 and 50 who were declared this Thursday as alleged perpetrators of a crime against fundamental rights and public liberties and were released with the warning to appear before the judicial authority when required to do so. , as reported to EFE by the National Police.
Apparently, the woman went to the pool with her minor children and facility staff prevented her access, after which she filed a complaint with the Police.
As published this Friday by the newspaper Levante-EMV, the woman assures that when she arrived they asked her if she was wearing a swimsuit and she stated that she was only going so that her children could bathe, and they denied her access. She subsequently hurled racist slurs at her, according to published testimony.
The Valencia City Council has opened an investigation into the concessionaire company of the Benicalap municipal swimming pool, Aquaval, to find out the events that have occurred and take the appropriate measures that may be necessary.
Municipal sources have indicated to EFE that the woman wanted to bathe in street clothes, something that is prevented by the regulations of the Municipal Sports Foundation (FDM), according to the verbal account of the events communicated by the concessionaire.
The City Council has issued a statement in which it indicates that, given the information known about a possible case of discrimination against a woman in the Benicalap municipal swimming pool, in this month of August, it has opened a joint investigation by the Municipal Sports Foundation (FDM) and the Office of Non-Discrimination (ONDIS) of the consistory, to “learn the events that have occurred and take the appropriate measures that were necessary.” ONDIS was created to clarify cases of discrimination that may occur in the city of Valencia, he specifies.
During the investigation, both parties will be heard, according to the City Council, which recalls that the Benicalap municipal pool is managed by a concessionaire, a company outside the City Council that has the concession until February 2024.
This Friday, staff from the Municipal Sports Foundation went to the Benicalap pool and notified the concessionaire company of the opening of the investigation.
From the Valencia City Council “all types of discrimination are condemned and work is done daily to avoid situations that could violate the rights of people”, and the municipal corporation is at the disposal of the National Police in the investigation that is being carried out.
