‘Freedom Is in Hijab’ Twitter Campaign Dropped After French Backlash

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The Council of Europe had dropped its pro-hijab Twitter marketing campaign after a backlash in France, with French politicians saying it conflicted with the nation’s secular values and that it promoted Islamism and the enslavement of ladies.

The Council of Europe’s marketing campaign endorsing girls carrying the hijab included marketing campaign posters of a girl whose one half was bare-headed and the opposite lined in an Islamic headband with the headline: “Beauty is in diversity as freedom is in hijab.”

“How boring would the world be if everyone would look the same? Celebrate diversity and respect hijab,” it commanded, in accordance to the BBC.

Another poster shared on Twitter confirmed an African-heritage girl with a full headband and the headline: “My headscarf, my choice.”

“Bring joy and accept hijabs,” one other demanded.

The Times reviews that the European Union co-financed the marketing campaign.

“Freedom is in hijab”

A Council of Europe (@coe) marketing campaign funded by the EU (@EU_Commission) to advertise Islamic spiritual gown for girls has been pulled after outcry in France, a secular nation. pic.twitter.com/brsvtc8NwZ

— Andy Ngô 🏳️‍🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) November 3, 2021

The marketing campaign provoked anger in France, which prompted the Council of Europe to delete the tweets. French politicians criticised the message, saying it conflicted with the French Republic’s fiercely defended secular ideas, often known as laïcité, with Youth Minister Sarah El Haïry condemning the marketing campaign for “encouraging the wearing of the hijab”.

Ms El Haïry added that the French authorities “conveyed its extremely strong disapproval” which she credited for bringing about “the withdrawal of this campaign”.

The condemnation was widespread throughout the political spectrum, with former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier saying: “I would have wanted the people who had the bad idea of this campaign to have asked the women of (Taliban-ruled) Kabul who are fighting precisely not to have this veil.”

Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who leads the right-wing National Rally get together, condemned the put up for selling Islamism, saying: “This European communication in favour of the Islamist veil is scandalous and indecent as tens of millions of ladies courageously struggle towards this enslavement, together with in France.

“It is when women remove the veil that they become free, not the other way around!”

Fellow right-wing presidential candidate Eric Zemmour, who’s operating a good race in the polls with Le Pen to problem Emmanuel Macron to steer the French Republic in subsequent 12 months’s election, stated: “This campaign is the enemy of truth. It promotes the veiling of Europeans. It is publicity jihad financed by your taxes.”

“A reminder that women are free to wear the hijab is one thing. Saying that freedom is in the hijab is another,” stated Socialist Senator Laurence Rossignol.

Hijab marketing campaign tweets pulled by Council of Europe after French backlash https://t.co/rt6oOfBbZY

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 3, 2021

Criticism got here from exterior France as nicely, with Canadian anti-hijab activist Yasmine Mohammed saying: “Hijab is the antithesis of freedom. Hijab restricts.

“Hijab is the opposite of diversity. It strips a woman of her individuality.”

Recent years have seen the rise of World Hijab Day, celebrated on February 1st to advertise the carrying of the Islamic headband and encourage non-Muslim girls and non-hijab-wearing Muslim girls to “experience the hijab”.

Last 12 months, the occasion was criticised by Middle East scholar A. J. Caschetta final 12 months for dishonouring girls subjected to Islamic modesty tradition who’re compelled to cowl up.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Council of Europe instructed the BBC that the tweets had been deleted “while we reflect on a better presentation of this project”.

Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric stated that the person messages posted in regards to the hijab “reflected the statements made individually by participants in one of the workshops of the project and do not represent the position of the Council of Europe”.

The Council of Europe is among the continent’s oldest political organisations and incorporates practically 50 members, stretching from Russia to Greenland, and from Scandinavia to the Balkans, Turkey, and the Caucasus. While not affiliated with the European Union, it’s partly funded by Brussels.

The Council of Europe is taken into account the continent’s high human rights organisation as it’s the dwelling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) which enforces the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), to which all EU member-states adhere.