DUBAI: A far-right activist in the UK took to Twitter this week to slam high street retailer Debenhams for selling hijabs aimed at Muslim women.
However, instead of igniting anger online, Tommy Robinson’s tweet sparked a flurry of hilarious responses from Muslims around the world.
On Monday, Robinson tweeted a photograph of mannequins wearing hijabs with the caption “Debenhams in Birmingham. Promoting the Slavery of women.”
Debenhams in Birmingham . Promoting the Slavery of women pic.twitter.com/hPIJo8O24B
— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) August 28, 2017
But not everyone agreed that Debenhams, which is one of the first British department stores to offer Muslim-targeted brands, was doing anything wrong at all.
A headscarf does not represent slavery of women, open your eyes
— Hannah Michel-Bowman (@Hannah0596) August 29, 2017
Social media users asked him to share the location so they could shop there too.
Others asked for his thoughts on the queen, who regularly wears a headscarf when she is outdoors, and Christian nuns.
Slaves Tommy? pic.twitter.com/FSQuc5wGxT
— Ben (@yellowyell) August 28, 2017
Feel sorry for this "enslaved" lady pic.twitter.com/kz7eGRbNLW
— Omar Baba (@UmarF_Patel) August 29, 2017
Many called him out for feeding into stereotypes on women who choose to wear the hijab, while others asked why he was policing women’s bodies by telling them what they should and should not wear.
How does that symbolise slavery. Just been on a great business trip to Middle East with powerful hijab wearing women. Open your eyes man
— Rupert (@WarmTheCockles) August 28, 2017
You're the one trying to tell women what they should wear you ghoul
— Michael (@mljno) August 29, 2017
