Men banned from Oz council to prevent mixing with Muslim women

Canberra, Sept 16 (ANI): The Darebin City Council ban in Australia has banned men because it is "not appropriate" for men to mix with Muslim women.

The decision has been backed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), declaring there was no discrimination and councils no longer needed to apply for exemptions.

The council sought the bans because it was "culturally inappropriate for young women to participate in recreational activity with males present", the Herald Sun reports.

But Ratepayers Victoria president Jack Davis said the bans were "another case of segregation".

"I think it is totally wrong. I think it's ridiculous and I do think it is discrimination, and it goes against what the average ratepayer wants," Davis said.

"We are seeing more and more of this kind of stuff," he added.

Moreland council recently banned men from a dance event while Monash council put up curtains at a public pool so that Muslim women could have privacy during a female-only exercise classes.

Meanwhile, Darebin Mayor Diana Asmar said the latest bans involved events promoted to young women who, "due to their cultural and religious backgrounds, cannot attend events where men and women both attend".

"The December event is a 10-week workshop series that teaches young women DJ-ing skills. The program culminates in a social event that the young women plan and run themselves," she added. (ANI)