Japan’s foreign ministry has come under fire after costumes used to depict terrorists in an anti-terror drill were criticised as stereotypical depictions of a Middle Eastern or Muslim “terrorist”.
The ministry shared pictures of the 10 September drill showing people playing terrorists wearing a headscarf resembling a traditional Arab keffiyeh, a headdress featuring a distinctive woven pattern.
One picture showed a person playing a terrorist wearing the scarf-like cloth as he placed a bag over a hostage’s head. The images drew criticism online, with some users saying the resemblance to a keffiyeh was hard to miss and accusing the ministry of reinforcing stereotypes linking Arabs or Muslims with terrorism.
Most terrorists are Muslim.
