Burkini creator criticises ban as 'unfair' to her diverse customers
The controversy over banning the burkini on certain French beaches is heated as ever, and its creator isn't happy about it.
Aheda Zanetti is the Australian creator of the burkini, designing them in her western Sydney studio and exporting them to the world. They've been a hit: 700,000 garments have been shipped to clients in the UK, U.S. and Canada alone.
Zanetti explained that originally, she didn't want to make the burkini a religious garment, but rather wanted it as an alternative to the ubiquitous bikini.
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"It could be used for sun protection, it could be used for any other faith. It could be used for women that just don't want to wear a bikini anymore," Zanetti told ABC's 7:30 on Thursday.
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The creation of her burkini came as a result the Cronulla Riots, in a moment of reconciliation between beach culture and the Islamic community. Surf Lifesaving Australia contacted Zanetti to create a garment for a Muslim woman to wear for a lifesaving program.
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Nigella Lawson wore one during her visit to an Australian beach in 2011, arguably becoming the burkini's highest profile wearer. But more than a decade on from its ideation, the burkini has become the source of conflict as French authorities crack down on the garment.
"And now it's, you know, it's made a political issue which is unfair. I mean, these women are getting punished for something that they are not involved in," she said.
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"This is a swimsuit that represents freedom and sun and surf and happiness and swimming and leisure, family, happiness."
As the debate over whether the burkini ban is sexist and Islamophobic rages on, France's highest administrative court (Conseil d'Etat) is set to hand down a decision on the banning of the burkini in the southern town of Villeneuve-Loubet on Friday. It follows an appeal from France's Human Rights League, according to France 24.
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