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The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Tourist hotspot wages war on ‘indecent' men's swimwear
A picturesque Algerian coastal town, renowned for its stunning Mediterranean vistas, has become the unlikely epicentre of a cultural clash over men's swimwear. Chetaïbi, a town of 8,000 residents, thrives on seasonal tourism, drawing thousands to its turquoise waters, rocky coves, and forested hills each summer. This economic reliance has historically fostered a welcoming atmosphere. 'The mood is warm, welcoming, colorful, bustling – no hostility toward bathers, not in words, not in looks,' Salah Edine Bey, a long-time resident, said. 'People here have a tradition of hospitality.' But a shift came earlier in July when the town's mayor issued a decree, catching vacationers and local businesses off guard. The order banned beachgoers from wearing Bermuda shorts, deeming the attire "indecent" in contrast to the longer, looser styles favoured by more conservative male beachgoers. 'These summer outfits disturb the population, they go against our society's moral values and sense of decency,' Mayor Layachi Allaoua wrote. 'The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing." The order sparked immediate backlash from officials, including in the regional capital Annaba, who called on the mayor to revoke it. The mayor reversed the decree within two days. On Facebook, he insisted his order was not driven by Islamist pressure, but by a desire to preserve 'peace and tranquility' for both residents and guests. Still, the episode tapped into deeper tensions over religion, identity, and public space in a country that remains haunted by a civil war that killed an estimated 200,000 people throughout the 1990s. The conflict began in 1991, when the army canceled elections that an Islamist party was set to win. The so-called 'black decade' ended long ago. But it left unresolved some underlying friction between political Islam and Algeria's military-backed secular state. 'Even though Islamists lost the war in the 1990s, they never gave up on their invasive and intrusive ideological project, which has gained ground in society,' sociologist Redouane Boudjemaâ said. For some, the beach debate echoed that earlier era, when Islamist-run municipalities tried to reshape public life in line with religious doctrine. For many Algerians, particularly in underserved regions, political Islam remains popular not out of extremism, but as a reaction to corruption, inequality, and distrust in state institutions. While Islamist parties have mostly fared poorly at the ballot box, they play a large role in daily life, filling social and moral voids. In neighboring Jijel, residents have roped off parts of the beach for mass prayers, with videos of the scenes circulating online and dividing opinion. For Halim Kabir, it is a stark reminder of the past. In the 1990s, Islamists who won local elections in Jijel imposed stricter rules on public behavior. Today, cars parked near the beach have been vandalised, with warnings telling beachgoers to 'go sin elsewhere'. 'It's provocation,' Kabir said. 'An attempt to drive away visitors from other regions.' Said Boukhlifa, a former senior official at the Ministry of Tourism, warned that conservative groups are exploiting Algeria's economic troubles, as falling gas revenues strain the state, to expand their influence. That, he said, could undermine the country's ambitions to grow its tourism sector.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top travel destination wages weird war against so-called ‘indecent' swimwear — but it's not bikinis they're mad about
Everybody out! A top Mediterranean beach destination is blowing the whistle on an 'indecent' form of swimwear — claiming that the allegedly revealing style favored by tourists 'disturbs the population.' But in the North African resort of Chetaïbi, Algeria, known for turquoise waters, rocky coves and forested hills, it's not women in skimpy bikinis that have local officials crying out for a cover-up. This time, it's the men who have been found guilty of inflaming the passions of the purportedly prudish populace — with their apparent affinity for Bermuda shorts. The town's mayor issued an order banning male beachgoers from wearing the tempting trunks — mandating a return to the longer, looser style said to be preferred by conservative beachgoers in this part of the world. The municipality of 8,000 residents welcomes hordes of visitors every summer — tourism being an important part of the local economy. 'The mood is warm, welcoming, colorful, bustling — no hostility toward bathers, not in words, not in looks. People here have a tradition of hospitality,' Salah Edine Bey, a longtime resident, told the Associated Press. There was never much controversy — until earlier this month, when Mayor Layachi Allaoua had apparently, very literally, seen enough. 'These summer outfits disturb the population, they go against our society's moral values and sense of decency,' the hot-and-bothered Hizzoner announced, per AP. 'The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing,' he said. The proclamation immediately sparked considerable local backlash — including in the regional capital Annaba, where lawmakers urged a reversal of the decision. Within just two days, the mayor backtracked — taking to Facebook to insist that the decree was not driven by conservative pressure, but rather a hope to preserve 'peace and tranquility.' Algeria has struggled with Islamism for decades. The country endured a civil war that killed an estimated 200,000 people. In 1991, the army canceled elections that were going to be won by an Islamist party. 'Even though Islamists lost the war in the 1990s, they never gave up on their invasive and intrusive ideological project, which has gained ground in society,' sociologist Redouane Boudjemaâ told the AP. For some people, this order on men's swimwear reminded them of the times when Islamist-run municipalities tried to alter the public life in Algeria with its religious doctrine. While Islamist parties don't do well in elections, they still play a role in Algerian daily life. Said Boukhlifa, a former senior official at the Ministry of Tourism, warned against conservative creep — saying it could ultimately hurt the country's hopes to attract more vacationers to its shores.
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Top travel destination wages weird war against so-called ‘indecent' swimwear — but it's not bikinis they're mad about
Everybody out! A top Mediterranean beach destination is blowing the whistle on an 'indecent' form of swimwear — claiming that the allegedly revealing style favored by tourists 'disturbs the population.' But in the North African resort of Chetaïbi, Algeria, known for turquoise waters, rocky coves and forested hills, it's not women in skimpy bikinis that have local officials crying out for a cover-up. Advertisement 3 Chetaïbi is known for its turquoise waters, rocky coves and forested hills. Billal Bensalem/NurPhoto via Getty Images This time, it's the men who have been found guilty of inflaming the passions of the purportedly prudish populace — with their apparent affinity for Bermuda shorts. The town's mayor issued an order banning male beachgoers from wearing the tempting trunks — mandating a return to the longer, looser style said to be preferred by conservative beachgoers in this part of the world. Advertisement The municipality of 8,000 residents welcomes hordes of visitors every summer — tourism being an important part of the local economy. 'The mood is warm, welcoming, colorful, bustling — no hostility toward bathers, not in words, not in looks. People here have a tradition of hospitality,' Salah Edine Bey, a longtime resident, told the Associated Press. There was never much controversy — until earlier this month, when Mayor Layachi Allaoua had apparently, very literally, seen enough. 3 The town's mayor issued an order that bans beachgoers from wearing Bermuda shorts. AP Advertisement 'These summer outfits disturb the population, they go against our society's moral values and sense of decency,' the hot-and-bothered Hizzoner announced, per AP. 'The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing,' he said. The proclamation immediately sparked considerable local backlash — including in the regional capital Annaba, where lawmakers urged a reversal of the decision. 3 Chetaïbi is on Algeria's Mediterranean coastline. Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images Advertisement Within just two days, the mayor backtracked — taking to Facebook to insist that the decree was not driven by conservative pressure, but rather a hope to preserve 'peace and tranquility.' Algeria has struggled with Islamism for decades. The country endured a civil war that killed an estimated 200,000 people. In 1991, the army canceled elections that were going to be won by an Islamist party. 'Even though Islamists lost the war in the 1990s, they never gave up on their invasive and intrusive ideological project, which has gained ground in society,' sociologist Redouane Boudjemaâ told the AP. For some people, this order on men's swimwear reminded them of the times when Islamist-run municipalities tried to alter the public life in Algeria with its religious doctrine. While Islamist parties don't do well in elections, they still play a role in Algerian daily life. Said Boukhlifa, a former senior official at the Ministry of Tourism, warned against conservative creep — saying it could ultimately hurt the country's hopes to attract more vacationers to its shores.
Japan Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Bermuda shorts, beachwear and a local ban divide Algerian town
A scenic beach town on Algeria's Mediterranean coastline has become the center of a clash over men's bathing suits, pitting religious and conservative values against tourist habits. Chetaïbi, a town of 8,000 known for its turquoise waters, rocky coves, and forested hills, draws thousands of Algerian beachgoers each summer. Seasonal tourism is a cornerstone of the local economy. 'The mood is warm, welcoming, colorful, bustling — no hostility toward bathers, not in words, not in looks. People here have a tradition of hospitality,' said Salah Edine Bey, a longtime resident. In his view, there was little sign of controversy, until there was. Earlier this month, some vacationers and business owners were caught off guard when the town's mayor issued a decree banning beachgoers from walking around in Bermuda shorts, calling the attire indecent in contrast to the longer, looser shorts preferred by conservative male beachgoers. 'These summer outfits disturb the population, they go against our society's moral values and sense of decency,' Mayor Layachi Allaoua wrote. 'The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing," he added, referencing visitors from elsewhere in Algeria. The order sparked immediate backlash from officials, including in the regional capital Annaba, who called on the mayor to revoke it. The mayor reversed the decree within two days. On Facebook, he insisted his order wasn't driven by Islamist pressure, but by a desire to preserve 'peace and tranquility' for both residents and guests. Still, the episode tapped into deeper tensions over religion, identity, and public space in a country that remains haunted by a civil war that killed an estimated 200,000 people throughout the 1990s. The conflict began in 1991, when the army canceled elections that an Islamist party was set to win. The so-called 'black decade' ended long ago. But it left unresolved some underlying friction between political Islam and Algeria's military-backed secular state. 'Even though Islamists lost the war in the 1990s, they never gave up on their invasive and intrusive ideological project, which has gained ground in society,' said sociologist Redouane Boudjemaâ. For some, the beach debate echoed that earlier era, when Islamist-run municipalities tried to reshape public life in line with religious doctrine. For many Algerians, particularly in underserved regions, political Islam remains popular not out of extremism, but as a reaction to corruption, inequality, and distrust in state institutions. While Islamist parties have mostly fared poorly at the ballot box, they play a large role in daily life, filling social and moral voids. In neighboring Jijel, residents have roped off parts of the beach for mass prayers, with videos of the scenes circulating online and dividing opinion. For Halim Kabir, it's a stark reminder of the past. In the 1990s, Islamists who won local elections in Jijel imposed stricter rules on public behavior. Today, cars parked near the beach have been vandalized with warnings telling beachgoers to 'go sin elsewhere.' 'It's provocation,' Kabir said. 'An attempt to drive away visitors from other regions.' Said Boukhlifa, a former senior official at the Ministry of Tourism, warned that conservative groups are exploiting Algeria's economic troubles, as falling gas revenues strain the state, to expand their influence. That, he said, could undermine the country's ambitions to grow its tourism sector. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Tourist hotspot in crackdown on ‘indecent' clothing item that ‘disturbs the population'
A picturesque Algerian coastal town, renowned for its stunning Mediterranean vistas, has become the unlikely epicentre of a cultural clash over men's swimwear. Chetaïbi, a town of 8,000 residents, thrives on seasonal tourism, drawing thousands to its turquoise waters, rocky coves, and forested hills each summer. This economic reliance has historically fostered a welcoming atmosphere. 'The mood is warm, welcoming, colorful, bustling – no hostility toward bathers, not in words, not in looks,' Salah Edine Bey, a long-time resident, said. 'People here have a tradition of hospitality.' But a shift came earlier in July when the town's mayor issued a decree, catching vacationers and local businesses off guard. The order banned beachgoers from wearing Bermuda shorts, deeming the attire "indecent" in contrast to the longer, looser styles favoured by more conservative male beachgoers. 'These summer outfits disturb the population, they go against our society's moral values and sense of decency,' Mayor Layachi Allaoua wrote. 'The population can no longer tolerate seeing foreigners wandering the streets in indecent clothing." The order sparked immediate backlash from officials, including in the regional capital Annaba, who called on the mayor to revoke it. The mayor reversed the decree within two days. On Facebook, he insisted his order was not driven by Islamist pressure, but by a desire to preserve 'peace and tranquility' for both residents and guests. Still, the episode tapped into deeper tensions over religion, identity, and public space in a country that remains haunted by a civil war that killed an estimated 200,000 people throughout the 1990s. The conflict began in 1991, when the army canceled elections that an Islamist party was set to win. The so-called 'black decade' ended long ago. But it left unresolved some underlying friction between political Islam and Algeria's military-backed secular state. 'Even though Islamists lost the war in the 1990s, they never gave up on their invasive and intrusive ideological project, which has gained ground in society,' sociologist Redouane Boudjemaâ said. For some, the beach debate echoed that earlier era, when Islamist-run municipalities tried to reshape public life in line with religious doctrine. For many Algerians, particularly in underserved regions, political Islam remains popular not out of extremism, but as a reaction to corruption, inequality, and distrust in state institutions. While Islamist parties have mostly fared poorly at the ballot box, they play a large role in daily life, filling social and moral voids. In neighboring Jijel, residents have roped off parts of the beach for mass prayers, with videos of the scenes circulating online and dividing opinion. For Halim Kabir, it is a stark reminder of the past. In the 1990s, Islamists who won local elections in Jijel imposed stricter rules on public behavior. Today, cars parked near the beach have been vandalised, with warnings telling beachgoers to 'go sin elsewhere'. 'It's provocation,' Kabir said. 'An attempt to drive away visitors from other regions.' Said Boukhlifa, a former senior official at the Ministry of Tourism, warned that conservative groups are exploiting Algeria's economic troubles, as falling gas revenues strain the state, to expand their influence. That, he said, could undermine the country's ambitions to grow its tourism sector.
