Australian far right rages at hijab in national day adverts
But supporters want billboards put up across all cities
SYDNEY // Tempers flared over an Australia Day advertising campaign featuring children wearing Muslim headscarves, fanning debate over the meaning of the national holiday next Thursday.
The image of the girls wearing hijabs was removed from a Melbourne billboard this week after the advertising firm behind the campaign to promote the holiday, which was backed by the Victoria state government, received threats.
Far- right groups posted a picture of the poster on social media claiming it to be a misrepresentation of Australia Day and accused the government of being too politically correct.
In response, a crowdfunding campaign to raise A$ 20,000 (Dh55,500) to have the advert reinstated was launched on Wednesday. As of last night, it had received more than A$140,000 in pledges.
“The people who found it offensive are the same ones that complain ‘the Muslims don’t assimilate’, and yet here we have two lovely girls celebrating Australia Day,” said Dee Madigan, the campaign’s organiser.
The money raised will be used to publish the ad on billboards and in newspapers in major cities across the country from today, according to the campaign’s page on the Go Fund Me website.
Weighing in on the debate, immigration minister Peter Dutton said that images representing diversity in Australian society meant showcasing people from different backgrounds.
“It’s great that we’ve got young girls, young boys, from whatev- er background, who are embracing Australian values, flying the Australian flag, proud to be Australian, proud to be part of our society,” he said. Mr Dutton took aim at the Australian Greens political party for failing to distance itself from a hard- left faction who have advocated burning the flag, erecting protest banners and interrupting national day activities.
Australia Day marks the arrival of the first English settlers more than 200 years ago. It is supposed to be a day of reflection on national achievements as new citizens are sworn in.
But for many people, particularly in the Aboriginal community, Australia’s most disadvantaged group, it is known as Invasion Day, when colonial forces began to take land and lives from the indigenous population.