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Calls to boycott Zara resound after its head designer attacks Palestinian model with Islamophobic comments

Calls to boycott Zara resound after its head designer attacks Palestinian model with Islamophobic comments

The designer defended Israel and put the blame of terrorism in Gaza on Palestinians.
14 Jun, 2021

Vanessa Perilman, the head designer for Spanish clothing giant Zara, has been embroiled in controversy after she made hateful comments against Palestine in a conversation with a male model who then exposed the conversation on social media.

Perilman defended Israel's atrocities, putting the blame of terrorism in Gaza on Palestinian victims. She also attacked the model's Muslim faith.

"Maybe if your people were educated then they wouldn't blow up hospitals and schools that Israel helped to pay for in Gaza," she wrote to male model Qaher Harhash, who is from East Jerusalem, ignoring the fact that Israeli airstrikes during a brutal bombing campaign last month killed more than 250 Palestinians.

"I think it's funny that you're a model because in reality, that is against what the Muslim faith believes in and if you were to come out of the closet in any Muslim country, you would be stoned to death," she then exclaimed.

Following this, thousands of users lodged official complaints to Zara but the brand refused to take action and replied with a generic message about how Perilman's "spontaneous" apology had been accepted by Harhash.

The brand reached out to Harhash, who claimed they wanted him to post Perilman's apology online so the issue could be brought to an end.

The model posted part of their conversation online and from the screenshots it seemed Perilman was worried about losing her job and apologised for taking out her frustration on him, saying people were hating on Jews everywhere and she was tired of hearing it.

The model rightfully brought up the point that Zara needs to formally acknowledge Islamophobia that is often ignored by European society despite the fact that Muslims make up a large part of their consumer base.

"When certain designers said anti-semitic things they were fired from their jobs at luxury [fashion] houses," he recalled.

Harhash then revealed that before deactivating all her social media accounts, Perilman deleted the hateful recordings and messages she sent him.

"I wonder why someone would delete their messages before deactivating if they had nothing to hide," he said, claiming that what came out of her mouth was worse than, if not equivalent to, anti-semitism.

He said an apology meant fully acknowledging the pain you caused someone, but Perilman asking him to understand the Israeli perspective was just her defending forced coexistence under the current status quo. Thus, he refused to accept her apology, saying that if she came into his inbox to spew hateful comments, there is no reason for him to accept an apology that was not even genuine.

The model has since called on his followers to boycott the brand using the hashtag #BoycottZara. The movement has spread all over the world and many people, including those in Pakistan, have answered this call.

We understand that Zara can't control what its employees say, but to try to brush the matter under the carpet when it was called out by saying an apology had been accepted is ridiculous. The brand should take some responsibility for the actions of its very senior staff and at least show that it cares. Guess we know where we're not shopping from anymore.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jun 14, 2021 01:23pm
Many people have no clue that Zara is in essence an Islamic name whose real spellings in the English language are "Zahra."
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Chrís Dăn Jun 14, 2021 01:27pm
Why ZARA management should acknowkedge anything which they do not feel like to. The world needs freedom of opinion. If some do not like-they can stop buying ZARA products. Worthwhile to mention that a very vast majority of people in world keep emotion and business seperate from each other. ZARA provides nice clothes in good price and people will continue going there without gearing political propagandas.
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M. Saeed Jun 14, 2021 01:31pm
Hate is one of the worst human vices that burns and wilts the inner self of the hater,
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Tiva Jun 14, 2021 01:41pm
My contribution would be too order a t shirt in india to support zara .
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Uzair Jun 14, 2021 01:44pm
Can't boycott something you never bought anyway.
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Abuzar Jun 14, 2021 01:51pm
what people say in Private should stay private,
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Parsa Jun 14, 2021 01:55pm
Zara makes cheap gaudy clothes for the uninitiated in haute couture.
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Hello world Jun 14, 2021 02:02pm
Boycott Zara. It's the only way to make your voice heard loud and clear.
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steve lomas Jun 14, 2021 02:31pm
she is 100% correct and in the clubhouse?
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Hussain Jun 14, 2021 02:59pm
@Chrís Dăn The other day here you were crying about Jannat Mirza "offending" Christians, when she didn't, yet here you're justifying Islamophobia and basically saying "it's not a big deal, just move on". The utter hypocrisy. Who are you and why are you here? Don't dare try to tell us what we should be concerned about. We will always stand against Islamophobia even if it makes the likes of you seethe in anger. You have no business telling us how we should response - now or ever. Now your place.
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Hamed Jun 14, 2021 03:21pm
@Chrís Dăn lies, defamation etc has nothing to do with opinion. In Euro-Christian countries, institutions don't acknowledge anything if not in their interest.
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Waheed UK Jun 14, 2021 03:28pm
Nothing surprising. It is convenient to forget by these Zionists that Israel came into existence through terrorism and terrorising the British soldiers and the Palestinians who were killed, tortured, and expelled from their homeland and their homes burned downto prevent them coming back
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truth Jun 14, 2021 03:53pm
thats her personal reaction why ruining the company? model seems needing 2 mins of fame too...
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Uddin Jun 14, 2021 03:54pm
@Chrís Dăn the world doesn’t revolve around your Slumdog country buddy
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Vagabond Jun 14, 2021 04:04pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad the name you are referring to Zahra - flower in Arabic is not an Islamic name, its simply an Arabic word, and Arabic predates Islam and cannot be purely called a language of one faith or religion.
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Rick Jun 14, 2021 04:04pm
If this was a Muslim they would have been sacked, the Palestinian's have the right to wage war against occupation, that's their human right. ISRAEL built the hospitals with aid money not Israel's money because you destroyed them in the first place
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Rick Jun 14, 2021 04:07pm
Chrís Dăn If this was a remark by a Muslim they would have lost their job, YOU KNOW IT.
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Tahir Raouf Jun 14, 2021 05:32pm
One cannot correct the inborn error of hate gene present in white suprematists
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Chrís Dăn Jun 14, 2021 06:03pm
@Hussain I am a part of"us" as I am a proud Pakistani- with rights equal to you hence will continue contribution. The woman who wore Cross disrespected both-christians &Muslims. She disrespected muslims as muslims don't believe n crucificationbut she wore this sign. In present case,customers buy product-not political fights between staff. Threatening is not positive trait. Do not use word"dare" pl to me.
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Chrís Dăn Jun 14, 2021 06:04pm
@Rick He she would also be dealt n similar way.
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John Cool Jun 14, 2021 06:34pm
@Vagabond "@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad the name you are referring to Zahra - flower in Arabic is not an Islamic name, its simply an Arabic word, and Arabic predates Islam and cannot be purely called a language of one faith or religion." That is a trouble when you buy your doctorate. It doesn't increase your knowledge.
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Sameer Jun 14, 2021 07:26pm
@Tiva already ordered a documentary on Kashmir from TRT world.
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Shamim Jun 14, 2021 07:27pm
I’m sorry I found the head designer of Zara offensive I will not shop there any more unless she is sacked.
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nk Jun 14, 2021 07:46pm
"I think it's funny that you're a model because in reality, that is against what the Muslim faith believes" Well this is the only correct statement coming out of her.
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Ali Khan Jun 14, 2021 07:54pm
Systemic racism
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Mehmood Bhanji Jun 14, 2021 09:15pm
@Chrís Dăn Salam In a civilized society it is an inalienable right to express your views direct it towards origination or who can clarify and remove any misunderstanding, what could be better if that could help and bring PEACE. Everyone of us have an obligation to to treat each other in a Respectful, Ethical and Respectful manner.
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Talha Jun 14, 2021 11:55pm
Shameful from Zara and its Head of Design and an apology isn't enough. Would Zara be fine if one of its employees time verbally abuses it's Director and just apologizes afterwards time? Also "this kind of issues" and "did not took"? Level of unprofessional behavior is reflective in their post too!
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Drac Jun 15, 2021 01:52am
@nk its offensive and will cost a boycott. Come what may
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FAZ Jun 15, 2021 08:23am
@Chrís Dăn So if tomorrow Janat Mirza opens a store, you will be the first customer? I highly doubt that
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D’Souza Jun 15, 2021 09:54am
She is absolutely right.
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Ras Jun 15, 2021 11:17am
Good! Zara should be boycotted. Them standing with their employee is endorsing of said employees views. Not only that, they make terrible clothes which incredibly low in quality and unsustainably produced. They should be boycotted regardless.
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NSG Jun 15, 2021 12:23pm
Looking forward to buying Zara, at least she isn't a hypocrite.
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Shahenaz Suliman Jun 15, 2021 07:16pm
@Chrís Dăn I understand what you are saying about separating business from politics but try to write anything that will be preceded as antisemitic and see if that will be taken as freedom of speech. What is happening in Israel is horrific and the killing of the Palestinians is happening every day and we are not doing anything about it and people still believing the lies of Israel and its actions
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Dunj Jun 16, 2021 03:45am
@NSG what do you mean, she isn't a hypocrite? she literally tried to take back what she said when her job was threatened
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Nizar Jun 16, 2021 05:37pm
@Chrís Dăn i agree with you about freedom of speech if only and i say only nobody is punished for expressing antisemitic, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic...ideas publicly. When this happens, then Zara can wrap up the story with a simpler apology like if it was just colleagues quarrel settlement.
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