SOS Méditerranée denounces Benetton advertising photo of refugees
The aid organization SOS Méditerranée has strongly condemned a Benetton advertising photo featuring refugees rescued from the Mediterranean. «The humanitarian tragedy unfolding in the Mediterranean must never be exploited for commercial purposes,» the organization said in a tweet on Tuesday.
The Italian fashion company's advertisement shows refugees on a boat wearing red life jackets and being rescued by the "Aquarius" aid ship. The words "United Colors of Benetton" can be read in the bottom right-hand corner. SOS Méditerranée has declared that it distances itself completely from this campaign. The photo was taken during the rescue operation more than a week ago. "SOS Méditerranée never gives its consent for its photographs to be used commercially," the organization wrote. It also criticized the photographer who took the picture.
The "Aquarius" recently reignited the dispute over EU asylum policy, as Italy refused to accept the more than 600 refugees on the ship. Benetton repeatedly causes outrage with its advertising campaigns. In the past, the company has shown a dying AIDS patient and a photomontage of a kiss between the Pope and an imam. (SDA)
Photo by Kenny Karpov / SOS MEDITERRANEE pic.twitter.com/vvPxqmLtDq
- Benetton (@benetton) June 18, 2018
Photo by Orietta Scardino / ANSA pic.twitter.com/guFAq0976l
- Benetton (@benetton) June 17, 2018
