It's the only 'politically correct' thing to do. Can't offend the 'fundamentalist Islamics' who might be viewing the press conferences re 'Johnny bin Walker'.
Cultural tolerance and diversity. Everyone seems to think Ashcroft has a personal interest rather than a national interest driving the action. Could everyone have missed that John Walker will be in 'civil' court? With a greater than usual Islamic audience?
Who cares? If some religious group -- Christian, Islamic, Elvis-worshippers, whatever -- is offended at the statues, then that's something for them to deal with. The statues are not obscene in the least.