Olympic toilets

Preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games, British planners say a certain percentage of toilets will face away from Mecca, according to the London Telegraph. The Telegraph says Islam forbids Muslims from facing Kiblah, the direction of prayer, when they, um, visit the lavatory. It is not the first time toilets have changed direction to accommodate […]

Preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games, British planners say a certain percentage of toilets will face away from Mecca, according to the London Telegraph.

The Telegraph says Islam forbids Muslims from facing Kiblah, the direction of prayer, when they, um, visit the lavatory.

It is not the first time toilets have changed direction to accommodate Muslims, says the newspaper.


Last year toilets at Brixton prison in London were changed so as not to offend Islamic law.

“Muslim prisoners complained of having to sit sideways on toilets so as to not break code. Faith leaders in the government pressured officials to approve turning the toilets 90 degrees.”

I’ve not heard of this affecting U.S. prisons, or any public facilities, actually. Has anyone else?

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