Vietnam Airlines has promised to withdraw all copies of their in-flight magazine after a fashion shoot featuring a Shwedagon-print dress prompted outrage in Myanmar.
Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, which appears on the bottom of a garment featured in the November issue of Heritage Fashion, is the country’s holiest Buddhist site.
The airline, which flies to Yangon, apologized on its Facebook page on Wednesday after thousands of social media users complained about the pictures, which appeared on the front-page with the cover line ‘trendy and traditional’.
“With all the good intention we however did not realize the difference in the way temple image is revered in various different countries,” the statement read.
“For this we sincerely apologize and ensure you that we hold all the religious [sic] worshiping places and people’s belief in our highest respect.”
“With this apology we have also decided to withdraw all Heritage Fashion November issues from circulation in our network with immediate effect.”
A post sharing pictures of the article was shared hundreds of times on Facebook.
“How would they feel if others make skirts or undies out of their religious heritages ??” wrote Meemee Nilaraye.
Religious imagery used out of context has roused emotions in Myanmar before.
Earlier this year, a Malaysian liquor company came under fire after using an image of the Shwedagon to illustrate the label of a whisky bottle.
And, in March, three men – one New Zealander and two Myanmar nationals – were convicted of insulting religion and sentenced to two and a half years in prison after an image of the Buddha wearing headphones appeared on the Facebook page of their bar.
They had used it to promote a cheap drinks night.
Photo / Simon Htoo Thant / Facebook
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