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Time of India
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Syrian govt wants all women to wear burkinis on the beach: What are these bikini alternatives?
Syria's interim government issued a decree mandating that women must wear burkinis or other 'decent' clothing on beaches and public pools, as reported by Syrian state news. A Burkini is a swimsuit which covers the entire body except the face. Exemptions apply to private beaches, clubs, and high-end hotels. This directive has sparked debate, with some supporting its modesty focus and others criticising government control over personal attire choices. This article explores the burkini's origin, design, and global impact, and meaning of Syria's new rule. This decree has opened up broader discussions about modesty, personal freedom, and cultural sensitivities in swimwear regulations. Design and features of burkini A burkini typically consists of a long-sleeved tunic and straight-legged pants with an attached hood or swim cap to cover the hair and neck. This design conceals the hair, neck, and entire body, leaving only the face exposed. Generally made from lightweight, SPF50+ polyester or polyester-spandex blends. It resembles a wetsuit which allows ease of movement in water. Origin of the burkini The burkini is a portmanteau of "burqa" and "bikini". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Düsseldorf: GEERS sucht 700 Testhörer für Hörgeräte ohne Zuzahlung GEERS Undo It was designed in 2004 by Aheda Zanetti, a Muslim Australian. Her goal was to provide a culturally appropriate swimwear for Muslim women observing hijab. Inspired by her niece's discomfort playing sports in traditional clothing and the 2005 Cronulla riots, Zanetti created a swimsuit enabling Muslim women to swim comfortably while adhering to modesty standards. Her company, Ahiida, owns the trademarks for "burkini" and "burqini," though the terms are now widely used generically. Users and countries that adopts burkini The burkini is primarily worn by Muslim women who seek to maintain modesty and religious principles while enjoying swimming or beach activities. It has majorly been used in countries with significant Muslim populations, such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Western countries like the UK, France, Australia, and Canada have also seen growing adoption of Burkinis particularly among Muslim communities. Some women also choose burkinis for sun protection, body confidence, or personal comfort while swimming. Controversies and bans around the world The burkini has faced bans in several countries. The bans have sparked debates over freedom, religion, and gender. In 2016, French municipality Cannes banned burkinis, citing secularism and security concerns which led to fines and public confrontations. Critics, including Human Rights Watch, called these bans discriminatory. Similar restrictions emerged in Morocco, Germany, and Switzerland, though some were overturned for violating equality principles. These controversies highlight the debate around religion, secularism, personal choice and freedom of clothing. Syria's new directive regarding swimwear on beaches Syria's 2025 decree reflects a shift toward stricter modesty regulations under its interim government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. The rule mandates burkinis or modest swimwear in public spaces with cover-ups required outside swimming areas. Men must also wear shirts when not swimming. The directive's lack of clear enforcement mechanisms has raised concerns about monitoring and penalties, with mixed reactions from Syrian women. Social and cultural implications The burkini symbolises diverse narratives: empowerment for women seeking modesty, oppression for those who view it as enforced control. In Syria, the decree has divided opinions. Some see it as morally respectful, while others fear it restricts personal freedom. Globally, Burkini has sparked discussions on feminism and secularism as well as cultural identity.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Muslim Australian lawmaker says she was urged to drink, ‘dance on table'
A scathing review in 2021 found Australia's parliament was rife with heavy drinking, bullying and sexual harassment. PHOTO: REUTERS Muslim Australian lawmaker says she was urged to drink, 'dance on table' SYDNEY - A Muslim lawmaker in Australia said on May 28 that she has complained to a parliamentary watchdog after a male colleague allegedly urged her to drink wine and 'dance on the table'. Senator Fatima Payman – who said she does not drink alcohol – claimed the older colleague made a series of inappropriate remarks after he 'had too many drinks' at an official function. He said: 'Let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table,' Ms Payman, 30, told national broadcaster ABC. 'I told this colleague, 'Hey I'm drawing a line mate', and moved on to making a formal complaint,' she said. It was not clear when the alleged incident occurred or who the colleague was. Born in Afghanistan, Ms Payman is the first senator to wear a hijab inside Australia's parliament, according to local media. Former political staffer Brittany Higgins in 2021 alleged she was raped by a colleague inside a parliamentary office, triggering protests across the country. A scathing review later found Australia's parliament was rife with heavy drinking, bullying and sexual harassment. Independent Senator Payman split from the left-leaning Labor government in 2024 after accusing it of failing to help Palestinians in Gaza. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Guardian
14-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Education minister accused of ‘political interference' over review of funding for prominent pro-Palestinian academic
Academics have accused the education minister of 'arbitrary political interference' in the Australian Research Council after requesting the body's board investigate the fellowship of a prominent academic and Palestinian advocate. Randa Abdel-Fattah, the recipient of an ARC Future Fellowship and an academic at Macquarie University, has faced sustained criticism from the Coalition, some Jewish bodies and media outlets for a series of controversial comments, including alleging Zionists had 'no claim or right to cultural safety', and posting 'May 2025 be the end of Israel' in the new year and changing her profile picture to a picture of a Palestinian paratrooper after the 7 October attacks. On 31 January, the education minister, Jason Clare, wrote to the ARC board requesting they investigate her $870,000 research grant, commissioned to research Arab and Muslim Australian social movements, as a 'matter of priority'. It followed a speech by Abdel-Fattah at an anti-racism symposium headed by the Queensland University of Technology's Carumba Institute, where she revealed she had refused an ARC requirement to hold an academic conference as a condition of her grant, instead inviting women to contribute revolutionary quotes. Abdel-Fattah said she did not want to fulfil her ARC grant requirements in a 'traditional way'. 'Part of my funding is to hold a traditional academic conference, and I thought, 'No, I'm not going to do that','' she said. 'I took some of the funding, and instead of holding a conference, I did … a Jars for Preservation workshop, where I invited women … of all different backgrounds … to send me their most beloved quotes from their warriors, their feminist women, their scholars, people who have inspired them and given them that revolutionary zeal and nourished them. 'I printed it out in coloured paper, everybody got a jar, and we sat down as a workshop and we cut.' Abdel-Fattah's project is described as the first study of 'a neglected but constitutive part of Australia's social movement history: Arab/Muslim Australian social justice activism', building new knowledge about how the community has 'struggled against external systems and internal conflicts to build a socially just future in multicultural Australia'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Clare said grant recipients were 'required to follow the rules' set out in their agreements. 'The government has asked the ARC Board to ensure that this is the case,' he said. But the president of the Australian Historical Association, Michelle Arrow, said Clare's directive represented a 'new kind of political interference' in ARC grants. In November 2023, Clare introduced legislation that would prevent ministers from approving competitive grants, after a review into the body found trust had been 'dramatically eroded' by controversial grant decisions made by former Coalition ministers. The review called for more 'checks and balances' on the power of ministerial intervention, limited to 'the extraordinary circumstance of a potential threat to national security'. Clare said at the time any future minister who tried to politicise the ARC would be subject to the scrutiny of parliament, adding the body had been 'bedevilled by political interference' which had 'damaged our international reputation'. Arrow said in directing the ARC to investigate Abdel-Fattah, Clare had created 'a new form of arbitrary political interference in research' that was 'seemingly triggered by an opposition and media campaign against an academic, and directed at a project already funded and in progress'. The general secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, Damien Cahill, has written to the ARC chair, Peter Shergold, seeking assurances the process has not been influenced by 'external forces', including media corporations. 'The independence of the ARC is paramount and neither politicians nor any other external parties should be directing its priorities,' he wrote. 'Australia's future will suffer if research grants become political footballs.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion The head of legal at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Simone Abel, said there should be 'no question marks' about whether taxpayer money was being used to create 'culturally unsafe spaces' at universities, adding it was 'entirely appropriate' for the ARC to carry out an investigation. On Wednesday evening, an open letter condemning Clare's interference in the ARC had been signed by almost 700 Australian academics, including more than 50 at Macquarie University. The letter said Palestinian, First Nations and anti-racism academics had been subjected to 'particularly damaging campaigns that aim to end their careers' and silence criticism of Israel's actions, adding Abdel-Fattah's research project had been subject to 'rigorous peer review'. The opposition education spokesperson, Senator Sarah Henderson, has been lobbying the ARC to cancel Abdel-Fattah's research fellowship since April last year, when the academic conducted an excursion with children to the University of Sydney's pro-Palestine encampment. 'This research fiasco shows Labor's decision to remove ministerial discretion from taxpayer-funded research grants was grossly irresponsible and not in the national interest,' she posted to X this month. The Greens deputy leader and spokesperson for higher education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, said Clare's decision was not just an attack on 'one individual, but on the very principles of free speech, anti-racism and human rights'. The vice-chancellor of Macquarie University, Prof Bruce Dowton, defended his university's response to concerns raised over Abdel-Fattah at a parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism earlier this month. He said he did not agree 'on a personal level' with Abdel-Fattah's controversial comments accusing Zionists of having no rights to cultural safety, but the university addressed concerns by urging staff to 'restrain themselves' and comply with university policies. 'We do have regard … about the rights, and … privileges of academic staff, around freedom of speech and academic freedom,' he said. 'The definition of anti-Zionism is ultimately a matter for the law on which the law is silent.' A spokesperson for the ARC said it was engaging as a 'matter of priority' with Macquarie University to ensure it was properly managing the grant and was separately conducting a 'thorough investigation'. 'The ARC has significant concerns about recent comments made by the researcher regarding the conduct of the research project,' they said.
