Letter: Revolting image

I WAS concerned and offended by an advert currently being displayed on a number of Lothian buses in Edinburgh. The advert was promoting Tunisia as a holiday destination and showed a photograph of a half-naked woman receiving a relaxing massage. The text read: "They say that in Tunisia some people receive heavy-handed treatment… Check it out for yourself."

Evidently the Tunisian Tourism Board thinks it appropriate to make humorous reference to the events earlier this year, which saw protesters violently repressed by government forces.

The juxtaposition of a wealthy westerner enjoying an indulgent holiday with a carefree mind in the midst of a nation where citizens lack basic human rights is somewhat offensive itself, but to make a joke of the mistreatment of civilians by an oppressive regime strikes me as exceptionally bad taste.

Perhaps we have come to expect such an attitude from the Tunisian authorities.

What concerned me more, however, was the decision by Lothian Buses, (or rather its advertising partners CBS Outdoor) to allow this message to appear on its fleet. Or, worse still, to accept money for doing so.

Upon submitting a complaint to CBS, I was informed that prior to running, this campaign CBS had concluded the advert adhered to the standards set by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Committee of Advertising Practice .

Tim Dore

Viewforth

Edinburgh