In an attempt to honor all the nations participating, the World Cup Organization has offended Muslims by including the Saudi flag in their advertisements. Perhaps the Saudis should come up with another symbol to represent their nation to prevent future offenses. Especially since every other nation on earth isn't offended by the public use of their own flag.
The writing on the flag states "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"
Known as "The Phrase" it is one of the five pillars of Islam.
No complaints about the rampant human rights abuses still commonly practiced in Saudi Arabia, where it is against the law to build a church or a synagogue, and slavery is still a problem.
“In particular, as advertising for the 2010 FIFA World Cup gathers momentum, there have been soccer balls bearing the national flags of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq in circulation,” the Jumiatul Ulama (Council of Muslim Theologians) said in a statement on Tuesday.
“These flags carry Islamic proclamations considered sacred by Muslims.
“Usage in this manner has the potential of offending adherents of the Islamic faith.”
The Jumiatul Ulama said it had observed an increasing trend in the use of sacred Islamic texts in print advertising and promotional merchandise.
“Muslims handle and dispose of such sacred texts with utmost respect. 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.”
The council has offered its guidance to agencies involved in all kinds of advertising on the “appropriateness” of the use of Arabic texts, arabesque art and calligraphy “which may have subtly embedded sacred text”.
The World Cup Local Organising Committee was not immediately available for comment.
