Conference on the Future of Europe’s promotional campaign featuring a veiled woman

15.2.2022

Priority question for written answer  P-000654/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Silvia Sardone (ID)

To promote the Conference on the Future of Europe and one of its sessions, the Commission ran a campaign featuring a veiled woman with the slogan: ‘The future is in your hands’.

This choice of model makes it seem like the EU welcomes the Islamic headscarf. Back in November 2021, the Council of Europe launched a campaign under the slogan ‘Beauty is in diversity like freedom in the hijab’ with photos of smiling women showing the garment in a good light.

This choice raises serious doubts when set against the many cases of Islamic women, in Europe and beyond, who face violence and hostility from their families and communities if they dare to refuse to wear one.

In view of this, can the Commission say:

• 1.Why it chose to feature a veiled woman in the Conference on the Future of Europe campaign?
• 2.Why it didn’t choose symbols, images and traditions portraying the realities of other religions and cultures in Europe?
• 3.What it makes of the numerous reports of Muslim women being subjected to violence for refusing to wear the Islamic headscarf?