Ban the Burqa Mural in Newtown

Newtown is a trendy, inner-city, multi-cultural suburb of Sydney.

Shop owner Sergio Redegalli painted 'Say no to burqas' on the outside of his workshop this week to start a debate about the practice of wearing face coverings. He said that burqas and niqabs are symbols of religious extremism and were becoming more prevalant in Australia. He said his sign wasn't about being anti-Muslim, it's anti-burqa. "If you let the practice of covering your face go, someone, somewhere down the line will say we would like Sharia law" he said.

Mr Redegalli said the image had already been defaced twice since he started painting it on Monday. He also drives a ute with stickers on the front which say "Australians have nothing to hide, say no to burqas".

It's caused quite a stir and people have gone to the council to complain. They sent two officials out to talk to him about removing it but apparently it's not illegal - it's a freedom of speech issue and they can't do anything about it.

Mr Redegalli told the local newspaper "This mural has come from frustration that political correctness has gone so far, you can't say anything about Muslims without getting into trouble" he said. "This is a stance on rights for ourselves, we can say something peacefully without having violence."

Clearly, Mr Redegalli is a brave man and knows what he's getting himself into. In a box beside the mural are printed copies of an article from the New York Times by an Egyptian feminist who supports banning the burqa. Also taped to the wall is an A4 page containing the Australian Human Rights Commission's definition of racial hatred.