A racy ad for a perfume created by Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli has sparked the anger of some Sufi Muslims in Canada, who say the commercial uses a logo similar to a religious emblem in their faith.
The logo in question is a stylized "H" lying on its side. In the advert, it can be seen featured on the wrist of a scantily clad Georgia May Jagger, the model daughter of rock star Mick Jagger.
The use of the symbol has provoked demonstrations around the world, including in Vancouver, San Francisco, and Beverly Hills. Now one is being planned in downtown Toronto, slated to take place this weekend outside of Holt Renfrew.
"#TakeOffJustLogo is a cause set up by Sufi students who are tired of their voices not being heard by Roberto Cavalli," a statement on the protest group's website explains.
They say the Just Cavelli perfume logo is a "sacred emblem" used by followers of the Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism -- which has more than 500,000 students worldwide.
"It represents peace, purity and the name of God. Students of this school feel very strongly about the illegitimate use of this emblem as the JustCavalli logo."
But according to the Roberto Cavalli company, the symbol represents a snake bite.
"The tattoo is a snake bite. It draws us together and it's basically the sign of seduction," Georgia May Jagger says in a Just Cavalli promo interview, which was uploaded to YouTube.
