Monday, March 10, 2008

The Shoes of the Prophet

Back in 2003 during the battle for Baghdad, crowds of Iraqi citizens reacted to the fall of Saddam by hitting his portraits with their shoes and stomping on his toppled statues.

Being touched by a foot or a shoe is considered a grievous insult in the Arab world. The latest incident of foot-related Muslim offense involves putting Allah’s name on a sports shoe manufactured in China.

Does this mean that protesters in Pakistan will burn the Chinese flag or the Chinese embassy?

According to ANSAmed:

Algeria: Shoes with Allah Inscription Under Fire

(ANSAmed) — ALGIERS, MARCH 10 — 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 Liberté reports. A real controversy sparked off on many blogs used mainly by young Algerians.
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“What does it mean? That those who wear these shoes trample on Allah,” some 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?” Liberté underlines, reminding of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and the anger of the Islamic world. (ANSAmed).

I searched diligently for a photo of the offending chaussure, but without success. The original story in Liberté is here.


Hat tip: insubria.

7 comments:

Dymphna said...

well there you go..

No democracy, whiskey, sexy for Algeria... and no happy feet, either.

Protestant said...

If we behaved more like them in terms of righteous indignation, we would not be on the fast track to civilizational stagnation and death.

Anonymous said...

INTERRESTING DILEMA

How can they not erase the abomination? But if they do destroy the shoes, won't they be desecrating the name of their god?

"Infidel dogs! You make my head hurt!" -- Muckmud Theghoul

Maybe worring over that will keep them busy until their neuron overloads and shorts out? One can hope.

Zenster said...

Being touched by a foot or a shoe is considered a grievous insult in the Arab world.

The more important question remains:

What isn't "considered a grievous insult in the Arab world"?

After all, it is "a grievous insult" just to fart in their general direction. As I always say:

SKINLESS PEOPLE LIVING IN A SANDPAPER WORLD

Protestant: If we behaved more like them in terms of righteous indignation, we would not be on the fast track to civilizational stagnation and death.

WORD!

Minor nitpick: Muslim indignation isn't righteous, it's flat out ridiculous. Like a too-oft told joke, such coin loses much of its value. Eventually—much as with the ancient fable—Muslim cries of "wolf" will end up getting their flock decimated.

More shoes! More pants! More cartoons! More Muslim aneurysms! Hell, I'm still waiting for my Koran toilet paper.

Anonymous said...

Someone needs to market Allahhhh! Brand tampons..."They Mo' better!"

DaToad said...

Charles, how about AllahMo brand products? Why stop at tampons? You could have Hemmorhoid suppositories, dog shampoo, toilet bowl cleaner, douche, vaginal cream, etc., etc.

Of course the company motto is obvious: "When you have that burning rectal itch, remember the AllahMo!"

(My humble apologies to the Great State of Texas)

laine said...

I think Muslims just tire out their appeasers who give in multiple times and then ask in order to serve them better: "Well, let's go at it from this direction, what is it that would not offend you and is safe to do?" Then sharia edicts are presented, the appeasers don their beards and burkas and that's it for them.