"Please update “checkered scarves” promptly, as it can be deeply offensive to Palestinians and their allies, especially amidst its ban at the Ontario Legislature and the rise of anti-Palestinian racism. You might want to consider words such as “an expression of Palestinian identity, struggle, and resistance” as they are more appropriate and accurate in describing the keffiyeh and its significance to the Palestinians and their allies."
April 24, 2024
To:
Nancy Waugh, Sr Manager, Journalistic Standards, CBC News
Dear Nancy Waugh,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to ask for a correction regarding your article: “Renewed NDP push to end Keffiyeh ban at Queen’s Park fails,” published on April 23.
You write:
Keffiyeh, checkered scarves that are commonly worn in Arab cultures, hold particular significance to Palestinian people. They have been a frequent sight among pro-Palestinian protesters calling for an end to the violence in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war continues.
This is not a fair and accurate description of the keffiyeh. “Checkered scarves” is a term extensively used in racist context on social media. On X (formerly Twitter) a search for the phrase pulls up innumerable tweets of far-rightindividuals using the phrase in highly racist remarks. The mistake to use the phrase by CBC is almost certainly accidental, but we would strongly advise against its use, as it serves as a dog whistle.
According to Middle East Eye, a keffiyeh can be seen by some as Palestine’s unofficial flag, especially after the Nakba and the establishment of the state of Israel. Its modern roots in Palestine go back to the fellah (rural workers) and the Bedouin. It was used to hide someone’s identity during the 1936 Arab Revolt against British colonial rule. In the 1960s, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, would always be seen publicly with a keffiyeh and popularized its wear. When Israeli authorities banned the Palestinian flag from 1967 until the 1993 Oslo Accords, the keffiyeh became an expression of Palestinian identity. In the 60s and 70s, during the anti-war movement, students and anti-war campaigners started to adopt it. The Keffiyeh became an overarching symbol of anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism. In short, the keffiyeh symbolizes the Palestinian identity, struggle, and resistance.
Please update “checkered scarves” promptly, as it can be deeply offensive to Palestinians and their allies, especially amidst its ban at the Ontario Legislature and the rise of anti-Palestinian racism. You might want to consider words such as “an expression of Palestinian identity, struggle, and resistance” as they are more appropriate and accurate in describing the keffiyeh and its significance to the Palestinians and their allies.
I hope CBC will make this change and not use negative connotations and inaccurate language when reporting on the Palestinian culture.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East