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The model and activist Lily Cole created a stir by posting on social networks an old photo of her in a burqa, for the promotion of her book, this at the same time when the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. She has since apologized on Instagram.
Lily Cole apologized for posing in a burqa … as the Taliban entered Kabul. The former British model and actress turned activist posted her apologies on Instagram Tuesday, August 17 after using an old photo of her in a burqa on social media – which was captioned at the time: “Let’s welcome diversity …” – for the promotion of his book, “Who Cares Wins: Reasons For Optimism in Our Changing World”.
“This week I posted an old photo of myself wearing a burqa on loan from a friend,” the 33-year-old wrote on Instagram, with a screenshot of the original post in the background. “As she pointed out, I was undermining her original purpose by wearing her with her face uncovered, but I understand why the image upset people and I want to sincerely apologize for any offense caused,” she said. wrote, adding in her defense, “I hadn’t read the news at the time I posted, so it was (incredibly) unwelcome.”
She then thanked her subscribers for reporting the “error”. “My heart breaks reading what is going on in Afghanistan right now, and (I) look for organizations helping women on the ground that I can support. I thought I would share some that I found ”. She then published several names of organizations focused on aid to Afghanistan.
Lily Cole has since highlighted this story on her page, in a category called “My Mistake”, but she deleted the photos.
The burqa is a loose, one-piece blue garment that covers the entire body, including the face, which is concealed by a fabric mesh opening. Under the Taliban regime, from 1996 to 2001, Afghan women were forced to wear the burqa in public, and could not go out without being accompanied by a male guardian. This rule was repealed over the next twenty years.
Afghanistan is in chaos after the Taliban took control of the capital, Kabul, on Sunday (August 15), just weeks after the withdrawal of US troops from the country began and peace talks failed. The President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, fled to Tajikistan, a sign of the collapse of the government backed by the United States. Commercial flights have been temporarily canceled, leaving Afghans stranded and fearing for their lives as an uncertain future looms.
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