"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."
April 19, 2024
To:
Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief, Toronto Star
Donovan Vincent, Public Editor, Toronto Star
Dear Robert Benzie and Donovan Vincent,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding your article: “Doug Ford urges reversal on Palestinian kaffiyeh ban at the Ontario legislature,” published on April 17.
First, while the keffiyeh ban concerns MPPs and guests in the Ontario legislature, it makes more sense to provide voices from Palestinians and their allies regarding this ban in this article. You only cite speaker Ted Arnott, who is behind the ban; Premier Doug Ford, who is asking for a reversal of the ban; Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie; and NDP Leader Marit Stiles.
Please include voices from Palestinians and their allies so your readers understand how controversial this ban is.
Second, by failing to give voice to critical perspectives such as Palestinians and their allies, your article fails to provide a fair and accurate description of the Keffiyeh and mention how the Palestinian keffiyeh ban is a form of anti-Palestinan racism (APR).
You only provide a stripped-down description of the Keffiyeh that does not mention its significance and importance to the Palestinian people and their allies:
The traditional black and white keffiyehs have become a common sight at pro-Palestinian rallies in Toronto and around the world. Some protesters wear them on their heads while others wrap them around their necks. Keffiyehs have a lengthy and complicated history, dating back thousands of years. Traditionally worn by men, the scarves are common throughout the Arab world, where they have long been worn as protection from sand and the desert sun.
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 Organisation, Yasser Arafat, would always be seen publicly with a keffiyeh and popularised 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.[1]
Please include a better description of the Keffiyeh to avoid absolving how it can be a form of APR.
I hope Toronto Star will make these changes and respect basic journalistic obligations when reporting on Canadian policies against Palestinians.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[1] Middle East Eye, “The Palestinian Keffiyeh: All you need to know about its origins,” (May 28, 2021), https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/palestine-keffiyeh-resistance-traditional-headdress