From swimsuit to burqa: Hillary Clinton mural gets makeover

Local authorities threatened to fine and prosecute the owner of the building featuring the portrait if it was not taken down following the mass attention it received on social media.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

AUGUST 3, 2016 16:03

Updated: AUGUST 3, 2016 16:59

Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton celebrates at her caucus night rally in Des Moines, Iowa February 1, 2016. (photo credit: REUTERS) — Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton celebrates at her caucus night rally in Des Moines, Iowa February 1, 2016.

(photo credit: REUTERS)

An Australian artist who garnered controversy last week after painting a provocative mural of US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a revealing swimsuit was allowed to keep his work on display following a slight modification.

Melbourne based street artist Lushux revealed on Wednesday the Democratic nominee now draped in a head-to-toe burqa.

Melbourne graffiti artist sprays burqa over provocative Hillary Clinton muralhttps://t.co/p1uH0cBNTc pic.twitter.com/tXSddz8nld
— CNN Wire (@CNNWire) August 2, 2016

According to CNN, local authorities threatened to fine and prosecute the owner of the building featuring the portrait if it was not taken down following the mass attention it received on social media.

"We believe it is offensive because of the depiction of a near naked woman, not on the basis of disrespect to Hillary Clinton," Stephen Wall, Maribyrnong City Council CEO told Australia based media company Nine News.

Initially resisting community pressure, Lushux decided ultimately to cover the former secretary state in the traditional Muslim garment, writing on Instagram that the new rendition met community standards.

"This is no longer a wall of a supposed 'offensive and near naked' Hillary Clinton, it is now a depiction of a beautiful Muslim woman," Lushux said on the social media platform.

"No reasonable person would consider this offensive. If you do consider it offensive you are a sexist, racist, Islamophobic, xenophobic, uncultured and ignorant bigot."