Israel model draws ire for anti-hijab video advert

AJewish Israeli model has been accused of promoting a racist and Islamophobic advertisement for a clothing brand after she featured in a video titled Freedom Is Basic.

In the video, Bar Refaeli, 33, is seen wearing a hijab and niqab that she rips off to reveal a Hoodies outfit with the song It’s all about freedom, finally breaking the chains, the cost of my freedom playing in the background.

The ad was immediately condemned on social media. “This has to be the most ignorant and racist ad I’ve ever seen and I can’t believe a whole company approved this. I’m disgusted and at a loss of words,” a social media user called Mariam posted.

Another woman Hidaya said that “people who fail to understand how wearing hijab [and niqab] is a choice every Muslim woman makes herself ... the actual oppressors are those who persuade/ force women to take it off”.

A woman called Haniya posted: “It might be oppressive for them, but for me and so many other women hijab is a wonderful thing. I decided to wear it. No one forced me to do it.”