'Strength of the Hijab' statue set to be unveiled in UK to celebrate women who wear Hijab
Smethwick (UK): A unique and striking sculpture titled 'Strength of the Hijab' is poised to adorn the streets of Smethwick later this year, making a global statement in celebration of women who choose to wear hijabs. This monumental work of art, believed to be the first of its kind worldwide, not only pays tribute to these women but also symbolizes their right to love and respect, regardless of their attire
Designed by artist Luke Perry, the 'Strength of the Hijab' stands an impressive five meters tall, weighing approximately one tonne. It is inscribed with a powerful message: 'It is a woman's right to be loved and respected whatever she chooses to wear,' encapsulating the core message and purpose of the sculpture.
The installation of this extraordinary artwork is scheduled for either October or early November near Brasshouse Lane. The initiative for this project comes from Legacy West Midlands, a registered charity dedicated to celebrating the rich heritage of post-war migrant communities in Birmingham.
Luke Perry, the creative mind behind this exceptional creation, shared his insights with the BBC, explaining, "The Strength of the Hijab is a piece which represents women who wear hijabs of the Islamic faith, and it's really there because it's such an underrepresented part of our community, but such an important one." Perry stressed the importance of visibility and inclusivity in our society.
This endeavor follows Perry's previous work, the 'Black British History is British History' sculpture, co-designed with Canaan Brown and installed in Winson Green in May. The previous sculpture faced defacement shortly after its installation. Nevertheless, Perry remains steadfast in his commitment to represent all facets of the UK's diverse community.
While acknowledging that 'Strength of the Hijab' may spark controversy, Perry firmly believes in the importance of unity and representation. Despite potential controversy, the initial response to the sculpture has been overwhelmingly positive, she added.
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Fact check: Viral ‘Santa drone show’ near Burj Khalifa was fake; Elon Musk also shared video
Dubai: A viral video claiming to show a giant Santa Claus created by thousands of drones near the Burj Khalifa during Christmas celebrations has been debunked as fake. The clarification was reported by Khaleej Times, which confirmed that the clip was created using visual effects and did not depict a real event in Dubai.
The short video, which amassed more than 36 million views across social media platforms, showed what appeared to be a massive Santa figure waving beside the Burj Khalifa. The clip was widely shared with captions suggesting it reflected Dubai’s inclusive and multicultural celebrations. Even Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, shared the video with a heart emoji, further amplifying its reach and lending it unintended credibility.
According to Khaleej Times, the video was originally created in 2023 by UAE-based VFX artist Fawez Zayati. Zayati later clarified on Instagram that the footage was entirely fabricated using visual effects. “I created this video two years ago; it’s fake,” he said, adding humorously that he could create a similar VFX clip featuring Musk if asked.
The video was designed to appear authentic, seemingly filmed from the Souk Al Bahar area near Dubai Mall, with pedestrians visible in the frame. This realism contributed to widespread confusion, despite the creator having initially disclosed that it was a VFX project. Due to backlash and concerns about misinformation, Zayati eventually removed the video and urged users to verify content before sharing it.
Khaleej Times noted that the episode highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in the digital age, particularly as advances in visual effects and artificial intelligence make it easier to create highly realistic but misleading content. The report also pointed to concerns raised by experts following decisions by major tech platforms, including Meta and X, to scale back professional fact-checking teams and rely more heavily on user-driven systems such as Community Notes.
This is how Dubai celebrates Christmas. pic.twitter.com/IfgcShYjTM
— أحمد شريف العامري (@ahhmedshh) December 25, 2025
