Hat tip, Random American.
Over 170 pairs of sports shoes with the inscription Allah in Arabic were seized by the Algerian police after the reports of many people stunned by this product considered offensive for the Muslims. The shoes, counterfeit Adidas made in China, have been found in many Algerian markets, in particular in Skikda (east), Algiers and Tizi Ouzou, daily Liberte reports. A real controversy sparked off on many blogs used mainly by young Algerians. "What does it mean? That those who wear these shoes trample on Allah," somebody say, while others ask themselves who is behind the making of this product. Some pairs of jeans with the inscription Allah in Arabic on one pocket are also under accusation. "Must we sit on Allah?". "Do we know to what insults of this type to the Muslims lead?," Liberte underlines, reminding of the cartoons on the Prophet Muhammad and the anger of the Islamic world.
At first I thought this was the old Nike flame logo story, but this time around, it actually is the symbol for Allah. The reminder of the Danish cartoons sounds more like a threat than an appeal for sensitivity.
Meanwhile, Algerian bloggers ask themselves "who is behind the making of this product?" Because, after all, it couldn't be possibly that a Chinese manufacturer might have thought that the best way to appeal to a Muslim market would be to show a symbol familiar to the market in question.
No, of course not.
