Dagestan’s capital Makhachkala has opened a Sharia beach with access restricted to women and children only.

      The project was financed by some private investor. The paid-entry Goryanka beach will be staffed exclusively by women, including the life guards.

      Besides women, boys under six will be allowed to rest on the beach, but only with their mothers.

      Deputy head of Makhachkala, Khanum Aliyeva, said at the opening that such a beach was needed in Makhachkala as the town’s womenfolk were often deprived of the health-giving benefits of the Caspian Sea’s waters. She added that the information about opening of the beach has already been disseminated among Muslim women from Dagestan and neighbouring regions. Many women have eagerly supported this initiative.

      “In Dagestan, not only are women are prevented from attending the beach by local mentalities, but also by public opinion and safety requirements,” Alieva said. 

      Earlier the authorities of the North Caucasus planned to open a big sun'n'surf resort, investing 140 billion roubles in that project. The womens' beach is only is a part of it, but destiny of the whole project has not determined yet.

Sources: Lenta.ru The Moscow News