Images on Soccer Balls Offend Muslim Sensibilities

CNSNews.com ^ | Wednesday, November 12, 2008 | Patrick Goodenough

[rfp1234]

Images from a Saudi flag on a soccer ball are drawing complaints from Muslims in South Africa, host of the 2010 World Cup.(CNSNews.com) – An Islamic clerics’ group in South Africa is protesting the appearance of Koranic text in advertising and promotional merchandise for the soccer World Cup, which the country is hosting in 2010.

At issue are soccer balls featuring images of flags of the world, including those of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. All three flags include words from the Koran.

The Council of Muslim Theologians, based in Johannesburg, said in a statement that the use of text which Muslims consider sacred “has the potential of offending adherents of the Islamic faith.”

Saudi flag“We would therefore like to bring to the attention of publishers, advertisers, printers, publicists and all concerned about the sensitivities the Muslim community has about the use of any type of media with sacred Islamic text,” it said.

Although Muslims comprise less than two percent of South Africa’s population, the community is an influential one, with activists frequently protesting against Israeli and American policies.

[rfp1234]

It's sacrilege for a Muslim to touch anything holy with one's foot. But the point of this is how much noise can be made by a small % of a country's population.

[gridlock]

Putting these flags on the soccer ball is a bonehead move.

Frankly, I think putting the American Flag on a soccer ball is also offensive.

Somebody did not think this one through.

That said, if somebody made a Saudi Flag Welcome Mat, I would gladly buy one to wipe the dog poop off my shoes.

[VRWCtaz]

I seem to remember something very similar to this happened a few years ago.

[70th Division]

FINE! Tell the advertisers to jerk the flags AND their money.

[NCC-1701]

“...But the point of this is how much noise can be made by a small % of a country’s population...”

Like that of the homos in this country?

[FreedomFerret]

Sketch some Mohammed cartoons onto the ball then throw it out onto the filed.

[lilylangtree]

Wish someone looked the evil clerics in the face and say, “who gives a bloody rip?”

[PeterFinn]

It's sacrilege for a Muslim to touch anything holy with one's foot.

Fortunately, I am not a muslim and thus could care less about kicking verses from the koran around with my foot.

[Captain Rhino]

Yes, there was a brew up over the same thing when an attempt was made last year (?) to distribute free soccer balls to children in Afghanistan. Saudi flag was either on the ball or on the packaging, IIRC.

Funny that these imams can’t quite bring themselves to criticize the Saudi, Iraqi, and Iranian governments for choosing to place texts from the Koran on their flags to begin with. And I have seen pictures of Saudi fans using the World Cup promotional hand towel (which includes the three national ensigns) to wipe sweat from their faces without so much as a peep out of the Muslim clergy.

Yet another case of SMI (Selective Muslim Indignation).

[rfp1234]

And then there was the Great Allah Ice Cream Cone Controversy in Britain a few years ago.

[rfp1234]

Fortunately for the Hartford Whalers, they became the Carolina Hurricanes, otherwise who knows what riots their old "Allah-like" logo could have caused...

[rfp1234]

Yet another case of SMI (Selective Muslim Indignation).

Apparently it's NOT blasphemy to have the holy-text flag coupled with a Suzuki advertisement...

[lilylangtree]

(I'm trying to post a pic with the story. So here it goes.) Arab Pilots Photos show total destruction of a $200 million aircraft, brand new off the assembly line. THE TALE OF THE ARAB FLIGHT CREW Written by "To The Point News" Friday, 16 May 2008 The brand spanking new Airbus 340-600, the largest passenger airplane ever built, sat in its hangar in Toulouse, France without a single hour of airtime. Enter the Arab flight crew of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) to conduct pre-delivery tests on the ground, such as engine run-ups, prior to delivery to Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi. The ADAT crew taxied the A 340-600 to the run-up area. Then they took all four engines to takeoff power with a virtually empty aircraft. Not having read the run-up manuals, they had no clue just how light an empty A 340-600 really is. The takeoff warning horn was blaring away in the cockpit because they had all 4 engines at full power. The aircraft computers thought they were trying to take off but it had not been configured properly (flaps/slats, etc.) Then one of the ADAT crew decided to pull the circuit breaker on the Ground Proximity Sensor to silence the alarm. This fools the aircraft into thinking it is in the air. The computers automatically released all the brakes and set the aircraft rocketing forward. The ADAT crew had no idea that this is a safety feature so that pilots can't land with the brakes on. Not one member of the seven-man Arab crew was smart enough to throttle back the engines from their max power setting, so the $200 million brand-new aircraft crashed into a blast barrier, totaling it. The extent of injuries to the crew is unknown, for there has been a news blackout in the major media in France and elsewhere. Coverage of the story was deemed insulting to Moslem Arabs. Finally, the photos are starting to leak out. Airbus $200 million aircraft meets retaining wall and the wall wins.... picture: ">

[MeanWestTexan]

LOL. Tales like this (and the Bible) give me hope for the modern state of Israel.

[Red in Blue PA]

If it weren’t for the oil beneath their feet, what would these people be doing?

Simply unbelievable.

[enraged]

Is that Ron Jeremy carrying a beer next to him?

Wierd looking crowd, beer, ice cream, and a tall nerdy looking dude with a head scarf?

[17th Miss Regt]

So many things are considered holy simply by having some Arabic lettering on them. Sure sounds like idolatry to me.

[TexGuy]

All your Squiggles are belong to us.

[rfp1234]

I think the pic is from the 2006 World Cup. My theory is that Germany wasn’t playing that day, so a bunch of Westerners just ‘adopted’ Saudi Arabia as their underdog favorite for a day.

[vimto]

Yo - unless it has it’s own thread already this deserves one! Waay too good!