Fury as German nudists are ordered to cover up after a migrant shelter arrives near their lake
Local officials say that commune members can't bathe naked after nudists fear of being sexually abused by refugees
MEMBERS of a historic nudist club in Germany have been told that they must cover up after officials prepare to open up refugee shelter overlooking the commune.
The nudists of the Familiensport-und FKK-Bund Waldteichfreunde Moritzburgare are to be banned from bathing naked in the lake in their retreat after the refugees arrive next month.
The 400 outraged members of the 111-year-old club say that officials are worried the migrants will be offended by their nudity.
The new £1.2million facility will overlook the commune and lake that residents enjoy skinny dipping in.
Club treasurer Petra Hoffman, 70, said: “I don't know whether it is wise to set up the asylum home here.
“Many members are worried about camping out on our land in summer with the home across the water. Now they say we can no longer swim nude and have sent the instructions to us in many languages on a laminated board.”
The 112 asylum seekers that will be moving in next door are all male.
But despite warnings from German authorities, the nudists are determined to resist layering up for the migrants.
Hoffman said: “We refuse to disengage from it. On our site we alone determine what we do and do not do.”
A local authority spokesman said: “We need the home. There is no other alternative.”
He said that the new regulations for the nude bathers were planned before they knew about the refugee centre.
But, the spokesman said that they will seek to enforce the rule now that the migrants are moving in.
Nudists are still allowed to walk around the general club area naked, but they will not be able to bathe in the nude.
According to the spokesman, the facility will not be in use during the summer, when most members came to the commune.
There will also be a privacy screen erected to protect the modesty of the asylum seekers.
In 2015, Germany took in a staggering 1.1 million migrants.
The scandal comes just weeks after the nudists expressed worries that they would be at risk of sexual assault by the refugees.
Hoffman said: “Since 1905, our more-than-400 members maintain a traditional way of life, the culture of nudity.
“I do not know if it wise to set up the asylum home here.”
The group feels like their way of life will be threatened when the refugees arrive next month.
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