Luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin is asking a Belgian court to kill a far-right campaign using his iconic stilettos for a poster denouncing Islam.
The poster by Flemish group "Women against Islamisation" shows the bare legs of an ex-Miss Belgium wearing signature red-soled Louboutins as she lifts up a black dress.
Words etched along the naked leg mark potential skirt lengths - ranging from "Sharia compatible" at the ankle to "stoning" high up a thigh, the Belga news agency reported.
The poster is loosely inspired by a photograph by Canadian feminist Rosea Lake, which went viral in January, called Judgements, depicting various skirt lengths ranging from "matronly" to "whore".
The poster carries the slogan "Liberty or Islam" as well as the group's web address.
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According to Belga, the legs are those of Anke Van Dermeersch, Miss Belgium of 1991 but now a senator for extreme anti-immigrant rightwing party Vlaams Belang.
Paris-based couture shoe stylist Louboutin says the ad tarnishes his image and wants an emergency "cease and desist" ruling from an Antwerp trade court.
A decision is expected on Friday.
The Vlaams Belang party, meaning Flemish Interest, has suffered in the polls in recent years and regularly launches provocative media campaigns against what it calls the "Islamisation of Belgium".
