AusLeisure

A Muslim woman has won compensation and a written apology from management after she and her friends were refused permission to go on water rides at Perth's Adventure World because of their clothing.

Pakeeza Shaikh won $16,000 in compensation earlier this month following a year-long court battle as a result of Adventure World staff telling her group that they could not ride waterslides because of inappropriate swimwear.

Shaikh complained in a private conciliation at the Equal Opportunity Commission that the group had suffered discrimination, and had been humiliated about covering up their bodies in line with their religious beliefs.

The parties could not comment because of a confidentiality agreement, but The West Australian newspaper reported that the money has been divided between the five Muslim families visiting the park as a group in February last year. It is understood they had rejected earlier offers of financial compensation until a written apology was included.

Last year Pakeeza Shaikh told The West Australian that the women in the group were told they were not allowed on Adventure World's waterslides because their three-quarter length pants and their long shirts were inappropriate.

Shaikh said Adventure World staff told her that if they were to enter the water, chlorine levels would have to be raised to counter the unhygienic effect from their clothes.

They were told their clothing could cause injury because it could get caught in the joints of the water slides. One woman in a head scarf was apparently told to leave the baby pool.

The group had asked to see the rules that proved their swimwear did not meet the park's standards. Management could not produce such a document and there were no signs to indicate the swimwear was inappropriate.

The Islamic Council of WA has applauded the result as a victory for common sense, spokesman Rahim Ghauri stating "we can never count victory in terms of dollars, but in terms of friendship and living harmoniously."

In February last year, Adventure World General Manager Grant Laidlaw said staff had made the decision after interpreting Health Department guidelines and that he was satisfied they had complied with safety procedures.

The Equal Opportunity Commission said it could not comment on the case, but confirmed a recreation park had apologised to an Islamic group and paid $16,000 in compensation.

The Commission said the recreation park had agreed to review its clothing guidelines, offered free entry passes to the group, and arranged a special welcome to restore the relationship with the families.

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