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Burkini inventor says there's a high demand from fair-skinned Irish women

Aheda Zanetti hit out at French officials over the recent ban on the swimwear.

THERE IS A high demand for the burkini from fair-skinned Irish women, according to the Australian inventor of the swimwear.

Speaking this morning on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Aheda Zanetti said that the burkini was not only used by Muslim women, but had a wider appeal.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be only for Muslim women, it could be for many other women” said Zanetti

“In fact, there’s been a high demand in my emails from Ireland from women who have got fair skin that don’t want to expose their skin to all these high sun UV rays.

So it’s actually protecting them against skin cancer or from future issues, so it’s not just for Muslim women it’s for women in general that just want to be either modest or protective.

Zanetti was responding to a high-profile ban on the burkini on beaches in a number of seaside resort towns in the south of France in recent weeks.

The issue gained widespread national attention two days ago when photos emerged of armed police surrounding a woman wearing a burkini on a beach in Nice.

The police allegedly made her remove some of her clothing, but this was later denied by the mayor of the town.

The ban was brought in following a series of terrorist attacks over the past 18 months which have rocked the country.

A decision over whether to uphold the ban will be reached this afternoon by France’s Highest Administrative court, the State Council.

Speaking this morning, Zanetti said that the burkini should not be linked with Islamic extremism as the purpose of the swimwear was to “give people the freedom of choice”.

She took aim at former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who had called the burkini a “provocation”.

“I don’t understand how he’s labelled it as such a negative product when it was supposed to give you the freedom of choice,” she said.

“It doesn’t symbolise any Islamic term or Islamic type of dress, it doesn’t even symbolise that a Muslim wearer would wear it.

Read: Controversial burkini ban to be decided by French court tomorrow

Read: France’s burkini bans being fought as an “attack on fundamental rights”

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138 Comments
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    Mute Seamus MacIonnrachtaigh
    Favourite Seamus MacIonnrachtaigh
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    Dec 16th 2013, 11:36 AM

    In Ireland there are almost 100 empty houses for every homeless person.

    Funny, I don’t think Enda mentioned that last night.

    Threshold do excellent work but they really shouldn’t have to.

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    Mute John
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:08 PM

    I think its disgusting to use the picture of a homeless child in the 3rd world to contrast against housing problems in this country. The child you have depicted doesn’t have access to social services or the care we take for granted in this country.

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    Mute Alfalfa T Boggins
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:29 PM

    Send your child out to sleep on the street tonight and then tell us about the difference it is being homeless in Ireland tonight and being homeless in a third world country. At least in a 3rd world country they dont set their homeless on fire

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    Mute John
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:31 PM

    Alfalfa. Go to India or Bangladesh and see how the people in the slums live, they’re treated like vermin, they exist on nothing. the rats in this country have a better quality of life.

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    Mute Alfalfa T Boggins
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:37 PM

    Sorry John to me a homeless Child here in December is at risk as much any anyone anywhere. Most 12 year old’s are not aware of the services you speak about. Plus obviously no one would print a picture of a homeless child in Ireland, its too small a country.

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    Mute micheal285
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:23 PM

    Maybe it’s the shape of things to come John ??

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    Mute John
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:35 PM

    more than eight million Bangladeshis live on less than USD 2 a day. Its disgusting how people in our sheltered first world bubble compare their ‘hardships’ to the people of the 3rd world. We don’t know real hardship in this country. Open your eyes!

    http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4794

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    Mute Aunty Simmonite
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:28 PM

    Contrast the few comments on this issue with the outpourings of the do-gooders on the earlier ‘racist’ item.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Dec 16th 2013, 1:04 PM

    John… Charity BEGINS at home.. I dont know what kind of a mind would think its ok for an Irish child to suffer a little bit.. Its ok to be cold and hungry and wet.. At least she isnt suffering like those in the third world..

    A child should be subjected to NO suffering.. no matter what part of the world you live in..

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    Mute Mitch Connor
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    Dec 18th 2013, 3:32 PM

    Gg

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    Mute Arpy O'hEigceartaigh
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    Dec 16th 2013, 4:34 PM

    “Suffer little children to come unto me”
    I say no more; think about it.

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    Mute John Allen
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    Dec 17th 2013, 1:49 PM

    fantastic work is being done in cork in regard to homeesess and your journal is doing a great job in high lightind the matter my em address is danielgreydog@yahoo.co.uk used to do a lot of hunting in glanmire woods happy christmas an the new year too god bless

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