Top models face court over ‘soft porn' fashion show in Muslim territory
Top fashion models face being hauled into court over a risqué fashion show in the mountains of Muslim Kashmir.
Scantily dressed male and female models in bikinis, pants and fitted ski-wear strutted on a snow-covered catwalk for a fashion show involving the Indian arm of Elle magazine.
The show by Shivan & Narresh, the well-known fashion brand, was held last Friday at Gulmarg, one of India's top ski resorts.
But organisers have been forced to delete pictures and videos of the event which local opposition groups condemned as 'soft porn' and 'mocking the faith' of the local population during the holy month of Ramadan.
Kashmir is majority Muslim but administered by India, which has a strong Hindu nationalist government that has long been accused of cultural imposition.
The fashion show has opened up deep divisions in the region, which is also claimed by Pakistan. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir's chief cleric, questioned how the show was allowed to go ahead in Kashmir, which is known for its Sufi culture.
'Such obscenity in the name of tourism promotion will not be tolerated,' Mr Farooq said.
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, an Indian parliamentarian from Kashmir, said: 'This is what cultural invasion in the disguise of tourism looks like. They show an utter disregard for Kashmiri sentiments.'
Elle was the first non-local brand to host a fashion show in restive Kashmir – disputed between India and Pakistan, but claimed by both.
The fears of cultural imposition by India run deep in Kashmir, which has seen decades of violence and protests against Indian rule. These fears have been growing after New Delhi abrogated the region's semi-autonomous status in 2019, prompting months of internet clampdown, curfews, and mass arrests, many of whom remain in Indian prisons.
As the pressure mounted on the local government Omar Abdullah, the region's chief minister, distanced himself from the show, saying it was organised by a private party and his administration was not involved.
Mr Abdullah blamed the organisers for their failure to exercise 'sound judgement, disregarding the sensitivities of the people, the significance of the location, and the timing of their event'.
'There have been concerns that such an event should not have taken place during Ramadan. I completely agree. Such an event should not have been held at any time of the year, given the cultural and social ethos of our region,' he said.
Designer duo Shivan & Narresh, who hosted the show on March 7 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their label, issued an apology after Elle India deleted a video of the event from its Instagram account.
'We deeply regret any hurt caused by our recent presentation in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramadan. Our sole intention was to celebrate creativity and the ski and après-ski lifestyle, without any desire to offend anyone or any religious sentiments,' the designers said.
'Respect for all cultures and traditions is at our heart, and we acknowledge the concerns raised. We sincerely apologise for any unintended discomfort and appreciate the feedback from our community.'
A local politician approached a court in Srinagar, Kashmir's largest city, calling for action against the organisers. Faizan Nazar, special mobile magistrate, has summoned the organisers, models, and editors of Elle India on April 8.
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