Cavalli ad featuring May Jagger with H-like symbol upsets Sufi Muslims

A Roberto Cavalli ad featuring British model Georgia May Jagger with an H-like symbol on her neck has caused uproar among Sufi Muslims who say the ad “degrades” one of its religious symbols, The Independent reported on Monday.

The ad, which promotes the designer's fragrance, showed the model posing in her underwear with the H-like emblem, similar to the one used by Sufi Muslims to refer to God, on her wrist and neck.

Many protesters gathered in front of London’s department store Harrods in response to the ad, according to the report.

Other protests took place in Chicago as part of a global campaign to have the symbol removed from the Italian fashion label’s campaigns.

Demonstrations also took place in California, Texas and Germany and a UK petition has been signed by over 3,000 people.
Cavalli, which has used the image in campaigns since 2011, says the symbols are not the same.

A spokesman for the fashion house said they are “deeply saddened by the distress expressed by’ the Sufi community but that they hope the EU ruling will ‘convince the Sufist religion of the complete good faith and the groundlessness of their requests," according to The Independent.

Jagger is the youngest daughter of Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger and model Jerry Hall.

The fashion figure has modeled for brands including Chanel, Versace and Vivienne Westwood and appeared in the London Olympics Opening Ceremony as one of the representatives of British fashion.