Swimming in a full-body Islamic bathing suit is just as hygienic as using any other form of swimwear, according to the State health directorate.

Charmaine Gauci, who heads the Health Promotion and Disease Directorate, told Times of Malta there was no hygiene concern in swimming in a full-body suit or burkini.

“As far as we are concerned there is no hygiene concern whatsoever,” she said.

Dr Gauci was contacted after the Marsa Sports Club last month ordered a Muslim woman not to use the pool wearing a burkini. The Maltese Muslim, who has since left the club, had said she felt singled out just because of her religion.

“This is about equality. I felt very hurt. They told me that the suit I was wearing was just normal Muslim clothing and that I was being unhygienic. It’s offensive because I am a very clean person and simply wanted to have a swim with my children,” she said.

The sports club, on the other hand, defended its position, saying it felt the bathing suit was unhygienic and went against its policy.

It said it had a long history of hosting several members of different faiths.

The modest swimwear is made of the same materials as other bathing suits and is similar to the long-sleeved aquatic vests worn by young children.

The Marsa club is not the only entity to raise concerns over the swimwear’s hygiene. Back in 2010, two British holidaymakers were banned from wearing the full-body suits and hijab veil by a holiday camp along the French Riviera.

The Rives des Corbières club also said the swimwear was not allowed for “hygiene reasons”, and that it went against its policy.

The club is s run by a staunchly-secular organisation called the “Aude federation of secular works”.