Lushsux Hillary Clinton mural becomes burqa wearing woman

UPDATE: A CONTROVERSIAL mural depicting US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as a Muslim woman has been painted over.

Lushsux Hillary Clinton mural in West Footscray has become a burqa wearing woman.

A CONTROVERSIAL mural depicting US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as a Muslim woman has been painted over.

Maribyrnong Council had requested the artist, Lushsux, remove the “offensive” mural on the side of the Mr Mobility store in Sunshine Rd, West Footscray, within 10 days.

But yesterday the Melbourne graffiti artist painted over the mural by covering Ms Clinton’s scantily-clad body with a niqab.

Looks like the council wins. GG pic.twitter.com/oHtynW8v2Q

— LUSHSUX (@lushsux) August 2, 2016

The council threatened @lushsux with a fine if he didn't remove his mural of Hilary. This was his response.Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/Wb7VVT6szk

— streetartglobe (@streetartglobe) August 1, 2016

Lushsux uploaded a picture of the updated mural to Facebook with the caption: “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. No reasonable person would consider this offensive. If you do consider it offensive you are a sexist, racist, Islamophobic, xenophobic, uncultured and ignorant bigot.”

Lushsux had labelled the council “pathetic” for trying to censor his work.

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Maribyrnong Council chief executive Stephen Wall had previously stated that if the mural wasn’t removed within the stipulated time frame the council would consider further action.

“If the matter proceeds to prosecution, it would be through the Magistrate’s Court, which will determine any fine and damages to be paid,” he said.

Mr Wall said of the original Clinton mural that it was “offensive” because of the depiction of a near naked woman and was not in keeping with council’s stance on gender equity.

It is not the first time the council has been caught up in a censorship debate.

It came under fire last July for censoring a political statement made over paid parking on a new mural in Yarraville.

The artwork, appearing on the side wall of The Village Store in Willis St, had featured a Big Issue seller holding up a “No Paid Parking in Yarraville” sign. The statement drew the ire of the council with the artists ordered to remove it.

The owner of the Mr Mobility store is away but a friend looking after his small business, Mitch, said she strongly disagreed with the council’s stance on the original mural.

“It’s art,” she said.

“I can’t see any problem with someone expressing themselves with art. I think it’s a wonderful thing.”

Mitch said far more offensive images could be found on the streets, yet they were not removed.

“I’m a woman and I’m not offended by it. It’s just a one piece bathing suit with large breasts but the nipples and private parts are covered.”

Council staff had said they had received complaints, but Mitch said the council’s reaction was “over the top” and “political correctness gone haywire”.

It comes after the anonymous artist has made headlines recently following huge murals of social media celebrities including Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian and the topless mural of Melania Trump featuring the Clinton campaign slogan, “I’m with her”.