Dubai: He is known as the ‘the Zorro of the Niqab’.
However, unlike Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas, Rashid Nekkaz doesn’t hide behind a mask.
A real-life hero for some, Nekkaz, 38, set up a £700,000 (Dh3.34 million) fund in 2010 to pay fines for women caught wearing the burqa, which was banned in France six years ago, according to the Mirror.
With another ban in place — this time for the burkini – Nekkaz says he is willing to repeat the gesture by paying the fine for any woman who decides to go against the law and wear a burkini.
The burkini has been banned in six beach resorts. France is on edge after a series of terrorist attacks – including one that killed 85 people this summer along the French Riviera.
Nekkaz, a real estate businessman based in Paris, completed his Master’s degree in philosophy and Post-graduate degree (DEA) in History from the Sorbonne.
Calling for “civil disobedience”, he voices his reasons for opposing the ban. “By paying the fines, I am neutering the law, rendering it inefficient and pointless, showing that it doesn’t work. It is a humiliation for the politicians,” Nekkaz said.
According to reports, Nekkaz plans to stand as an independent candidate in next year’s French presidential election and has been receiving flak for his intervention, with many accusing him of exploiting the situation for his own political gain.
“Amazones de la Liberte” is a Paris-based women’s association that is campaigning for the law in France to be completely overturned.
Association president Lila Citar says Nekkaz is using the issue to attract media attention ahead of his presidential bid next year.
“Nekkaz is trying to manipulate women. He accuses politicians of being opportunistic – but so is he. He is exploiting this issue as a presidential candidate to get attention in the media,” France 24 quoted Citar as saying.
