#BoycottZara trends after Head designer’s ‘Islamophobic’ text to Palestinian model

Team Udayavani, Jun 17, 2021, 12:22 PM IST

Source: Unsplash

Fashion giant Zara is facing a huge backlash on the internet after its head designer Vanessa Perliman allegedly made anti-Muslim, anti-Palestine remarks in a conversation with a Palestinian model.

Qaher Harhash, a Palestinian model from occupied east Jerusalem, took to Instagram and shared screenshots of his conversation with Perliman.

The Instagram story led to calls to boycott the brand.

Perliman defending Israel and putting the blame of terrorism in Gaza and Palestinians, allegedly wrote in the message: “Maybe if your people were educated, they wouldn’t blow up hospitals and schools that Israel helped to pay for in Gaza.” “Israelis don’t teach children to hate, nor throw stones at soldiers as your people do.”

She further added, “The people in my industry know the truth about Israel and Palestine and I will never stop defending Israel. People like you just come and go in the end. Maybe if your people were educated then they won’t go and blow up schools and hospitals that Israel helped to pay for in Gaza.”

Vanessa Perliman a head designer at Zara DM’d a young Palestinian model this racist garbage and when she was called out gave a lukewarm apology before deleting all her social media. I emailed Zara to demand that disciplinary action be taken and this was their dismal response. pic.twitter.com/eCJ6FUei2u

— Nooran A. (@nooranhamdan) June 11, 2021

As soon as the screenshot went viral, the internet went buzzing with #BoycottZara and #ZaraMustApologise trending.

Update from the Palestinian model @qaherharhash who was harassed by Vanessa…Zara reached out to him. He posted these screenshots. This was Vanessa’s “apology” that he didn’t accept that @ZARA wanted us to be okay with. @ZARA_Care this is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/qEYaAZA2gh

— Nooran A. (@nooranhamdan) June 13, 2021

#Zara is under fire as their Head Designer, #VanessaPerilman, attacked #Palestinian model Qaher with an islamophibic and anti-Palestinian post. #JohnGalliano was fired from #ChristianDior when he made an #AntiSemitic comment when he was #drunk. Will Zara fire a sober islamophobe? pic.twitter.com/VpFRceB4mg

— Hend F Q (@LadyVelvet_HFQ) June 14, 2021

Calls to boycott #Zara following designer's anti-#Palestinian tirade pic.twitter.com/8IfOgC7C6I

— The Palestine Project (@PalestineProjct) June 13, 2021

#boycottzara another brand added to the list smh pic.twitter.com/cLwDM6BmAT

— هند (@hindffs) June 12, 2021

Well, time to #BoycottZara. We stand with Palestine ?? #ZaraMustApologize pic.twitter.com/zzS3sniSLc

— Ubaid Ullah (@itsubaidullah) June 14, 2021

Hi @ZARA , we wont stay silent about your head designer attacking Palestinian model for supporting #FreePalestine instigating hate & vowing to defend Israeli crimes in #Palestine #Gaza showing disgusting racism, Islamophobia & anti Palestinianism. Take action or #BoycottZara https://t.co/aRXz8RX08c pic.twitter.com/PgiilX9X3P

— Omar Ghraieb?? (@Omar_Gaza) June 13, 2021