Friday, 6 June 2008
'Burqini' swimsuit a hit with Muslim women
By Kim Christian
February 04, 2007
A NEW two-piece, head-to-toe polyester swimsuit is set to revolutionise beach going for devout Muslim women in Australia.
The "burqini", which has already been sold to more than 9000 women in Sydney, is suitable for surf life saving patrols and has been endorsed by the Australian Islamic Council and the mufti of Australia.
Unveiling the new Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) burqini tonight, 20-year-old Mecca Laa Laa said the outfit, which covers the head and body, would give Australian Muslim women the freedom to enjoy the beach while fulfilling their religious obligations.
"The whole point is to get women active in the water, to encourage women to participate in sporting activities, in swimming activities, and wearing the burqini allows them to do that," Ms Laa Laa told AAP.
Tonight she was joined by NSW Premier Morris Iemma at a Lakemba sports club awards night in Campsie, southwest Sydney, as part of SLSA's On the Same Wave program, which was introduced following the Cronulla riots.
Ms Laa Laa said there had already been a rush for the two-piece swimsuits, which were priced between $150 and $200.
"Life at the beach is becoming more popular, I've always been going to the beach... now that the burqini has been exposed there's definitely a demand," she said.
Mr Iemma said the swimsuit was the latest part of the program to train surf lifesavers and help break down barriers in southern Sydney.
"It's one of many programs bringing people together, and the recognition that we are all Australians and we share this land together; we've got many paths, but we've got one future, a shared future," the Premier told AAP.
"It's really not a question of where you come from, what you look like, what's your dress; it (the love of the beach) is a value that we all share as Australians."
SLSA spokesman Lee Howell said the Australian Islamic Council was very comfortable with the apparel.
"The mufti (Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali) has personally endorsed the burqini as being appropriate and permissible for cultural and religious reasons," he said.
The swimwear blended traditional beach attire with the religious requirement of a burqa, he said.
A launch of the burqini will be held at North Cronulla beach in Sydney's south at 9am (AEDT) tomorrow.
This story is from our news.com.au network Source: AAP
By Kim Christian
February 04, 2007
A NEW two-piece, head-to-toe polyester swimsuit is set to revolutionise beach going for devout Muslim women in Australia.
The "burqini", which has already been sold to more than 9000 women in Sydney, is suitable for surf life saving patrols and has been endorsed by the Australian Islamic Council and the mufti of Australia.
Unveiling the new Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) burqini tonight, 20-year-old Mecca Laa Laa said the outfit, which covers the head and body, would give Australian Muslim women the freedom to enjoy the beach while fulfilling their religious obligations.
"The whole point is to get women active in the water, to encourage women to participate in sporting activities, in swimming activities, and wearing the burqini allows them to do that," Ms Laa Laa told AAP.
Tonight she was joined by NSW Premier Morris Iemma at a Lakemba sports club awards night in Campsie, southwest Sydney, as part of SLSA's On the Same Wave program, which was introduced following the Cronulla riots.
Ms Laa Laa said there had already been a rush for the two-piece swimsuits, which were priced between $150 and $200.
"Life at the beach is becoming more popular, I've always been going to the beach... now that the burqini has been exposed there's definitely a demand," she said.
Mr Iemma said the swimsuit was the latest part of the program to train surf lifesavers and help break down barriers in southern Sydney.
"It's one of many programs bringing people together, and the recognition that we are all Australians and we share this land together; we've got many paths, but we've got one future, a shared future," the Premier told AAP.
"It's really not a question of where you come from, what you look like, what's your dress; it (the love of the beach) is a value that we all share as Australians."
SLSA spokesman Lee Howell said the Australian Islamic Council was very comfortable with the apparel.
"The mufti (Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali) has personally endorsed the burqini as being appropriate and permissible for cultural and religious reasons," he said.
The swimwear blended traditional beach attire with the religious requirement of a burqa, he said.
A launch of the burqini will be held at North Cronulla beach in Sydney's south at 9am (AEDT) tomorrow.
This story is from our news.com.au network Source: AAP