Finally my voice is heard....
Shop withdraws offensive toys
By Sarmad Qazi
A MAJOR retail shop in Doha yesterday withdrew hundreds of mini footballs after they were deemed insulting by customers.
The soft balls were being sold at the shop in an assorted pack of three for QR7. One of the balls in each pack bore flags of countries from all over the world, including those of Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The Saudi flag has a shahada – Qur’anic declaration of faith, and the first of the five pillars in Islam. The centre emblem in the Iranian flag reads Allah and the phrase Allahu Akbar is written 22 times in the borderlines of stripes.
“My five-year-old child picked up a pack while we were there on Sunday, and said, ‘Papa look, this football shows la ilaha illallah on it’,” an extremely offended father told Gulf Times.
“I was outraged. This is being sold as a football that children will kick around and eventually throw in a dustbin. This, right here in Qatar!” he expressed surprise.
Because the inscription on the flags is considered holy it is not printed on t-shirts or other items. Saudi Arabia protested against its flag’s inclusion on a planned football by FIFA in 2002 Football World Cup that was to have flags of all participating countries. The Saudi government said that kicking the creed with the foot is unacceptable.
Meanwhile the enraged father brought the matter to the officials of the enterprise who “assured” him that “this was a one-off mistake and promised to withdraw the stock”.
However, yesterday morning shoppers were still able to purchase packs with the offensive football and one was brought to the attention of Gulf Times.
When contacted, the officials at the busy enterprise, having two outlets on Airport Road and Salwa Road, said they “must have received the stock by mistake”.
“We purchase our stocks directly from a factory in China. We have taken the objectionable items off the shelves and deeply regret the offence,” the manager told Gulf Times.
Other toy shops of all categories said they were not aware of any such football, while some said they had specific guidelines on cultural and religious sentiments.
Toys R Us store manager Ahmed Fawaz said: “We ensure that no offensive material ever enters our store. Our buying team is specifically trained on that aspect.”
In August last year, a small demonstration took place in south-east Afghanistan after the US military dropped footballs, some of them with the illustration of Saudi flag, for children from helicopters. It was the latest in a string of incidents that has angered Muslims around the world.
Source: Gulf-times.com
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Speed Comments:
It's my son 'Five Years Old' who brought my attention to this football toy. I purchased this football for him but while coming out of the shopping center, my son showed me the Flag of Saudia Arabia, although he knows most of the flags from different Countries but he was attracted towrad the 'Arabic Script' which we was taught in house and also during his Islamic class in the school.
Beside the aspect of 'Religion;, I think no Citizen should allow their respective 'Flag' to be insulted or 'Kicked around' like this.
[mod note: Thread locked due to the trolls. Apologies.]
Yes, excellent idea Qureshi, lets turn a novelty football into an international incident. Perhaps after you've sent that letter, you can protest outside the embassy. And after that you can burn footballs. Down with novelty footballs I say.
Great thought man...keep it up
Fear is the root cause of anger......so speak n let that fear in you disappear..
I am surprised abt your IQ level and i doubt about your philosphical views ...............
It seems too negative that you compared smoking,drinks,other silly stuff with our KALMAH which is the first piller of islam n a flag of country from where ISLAM comes from.......
Giving example of smoking n drinking u allow everybody to kick and hit islamic KALMAH n a flag which bears name of ALLAH on it...
WHAT DO U MEAN EXACTLY???????????????????????????????
Well done SPEED BHAI but we should not keep quiet on this only. I suggest where ever such foot balls have been recieved,it has to b notified to chineese embassy that " IF THEY DONT HAVE RELOIGION ITS THEIR OUT LOOK OR MISFORTUNE BUT THEY(CHINEESE) MUST RESPECT ALL RELIGION AND OTHER COUNTRIES FLAGS".
we r with u in such activities.... to defend our respect!!!!
good one speed... congrats once again..
*clapsssssssss
Well done Speed, MashAllah, it shows that we care and just ingore the minor negative comments, these are the ppl who cannot be bother to do anything adn when someone does jump in to critisize,
again very good and may Allah reward you of this excellent deed
if every one of us would be taking action on the little wrongs around us, like speed is doing, i think we would have had a better world than this messed up one we are now living in.
well done speed!!!! well done!!!!!
Well done Speed!
But, whoever manufactured these balls couldn't have been much bright. What a stupid idea!
Good Job Speed !! Way to go Woohooooo :D
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thanks speed junior for noticing the words on the ball and thanks speed for speaking up on behalf of the muslims, may allah reward you both...
Way to go, Speed!
may Allah bless you
How bloody ridiculous!!.....nuff said...
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they gave this excuse: "must have received the stock by mistake”.
Whose 'business' did it?
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
yes speed i agree,...
they should learn something from the 5yrs old child....
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for the umpteenth time, it is not the ball that is in question here... :(
I also know it's just a ball where YOUR GOD name is mentioned.
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...it's just a ball.
But then again, I don't play soccer (football to many around here) either, so that'll have to be my compliment to you. :-)
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
Everyone has some responsibilites to do in life and one of the responsibility is your religion... same goes to me and that what I have done.
2nd thing if it was only the 'National Flag' still I would have taken the matter in a similar manner since I was taught that, "The National Flag symbolise our sovereignty, pride and honour. It reflects the ideals, beliefs and values that we stand by as a nation amidst our rich and diverse make-up. It forms a crucial element of our national identity. As such, the national flag is to be treated with dignity and honour.
I know some people are ignorant but today I am surprised to see negative comments on 'National Flags'??? I wonder where is this world going to !!
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you have done a very good job
Rami, in case you were not aware this is a country that has a Muslim ruler and a predominant Muslim population.
And having the shahadatain on a football that is likely to be used at Speed pointed out is bound to offend them and cause harm to those people as well as numerous others who love and revere Islam.
If you do not care to protect things that you love then that is your problem...
They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to see it... --George Carlin
from what i have read, it's what is on the ball that's the reason why they're having the stocks pulled out...
rami - I can't counter your argument because your comment implies that the sales of all footballs have been banned and it's now illegal to play football at all! That isn't the case.
I understand that individuals have individual and personal religious and ethical beliefs. In this case, individuals believe that placing flags and religious statements on playthings is inappropriate. I get that.
What annoys me is that this is illegal, why should things be banned because they offend a couple of people. Clearly the product was popular enough to warrant it being stocked in several shops, so it isn't as though there was general outrage that this was being sold. In fact to the contrary, plenty of people were obviously pleased with the product and were buying it.
If you don't think your kids should be kicking around footballs, drinking alcohol or smoking sheesha, fine. Whatever. But why ban everything for everyone else?
I personally don't think that pregnant or nursing mothers should smoke, but since moving here I see it happening everyday. But I don't think it's MY place to ban cigarettes because some people do something that offend me. That's their personal choice and if I don't like it, that's my problem, not theirs.
Sister meaningful thanks for that, i have been around :) just got little busy.
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
Well done Brother Speed, people will not understand but keep it up.
Brother RS wellcome back ..long time no see! hope InshaAllah everything is good with you. Eid Mubarak.
I dont live with example..Rather I prefer to be an example!
Come off it rami. You come across as intelligent enough to be able to respect other peoples beliefs, even if you don't understand them.
I had no idea that I was such a reckless person for not caring what kids play with.
Had I known about the dangers of allowing kids to play with footballs covered in flags, I would have been much more concerned. Now that I understand just how dangerous such footballs can be, I will be more vigilant in future.
I am also very appreciative to all the people above who thoroughly explained all the ways that the world would have ended had flags been allowed to remain on kids’ toys.
Phew… crisis averted.
I wonder if its worth banning cigarettes… nah. They only cause physical harm to people who smoke them and anyone else in the vicinity. Nowhere near as dangerous as footballs.
yay...
now the world is a better place..
no more hunger, poverty, war, etc..
thanks speed!
Well done man...well done. What is gypsy doing here?
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
lol MD,.. oh those poor souls who cant sing to the right note...
Speed .. welldone boy.. Once again, we are there with you always..
Some wont understand the values,.. There are countries where people stitch their lingeries with their flag...cannot blame those grown seein those, finding these acts funny.
cheers dude..:) welldone.
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Live,
Let Live,
& Help Live..
I also plead that some people should not be allowed to sing the National Anthems because some voices are horrible and many people always sing in the wrong key!
Yes MD. That is the magic of QL :)
Ban Spoon Feeding not Me
"I think no Citizen should allow their respective 'Flag' to be insulted or 'Kicked around' like this."
Good on you for doing something you thought was right. Although I do find it a little galling to think that when someone 'thinks' that something shouldn't be allowed, they then take it upon themselves to ban it for the rest of us.
I wonder if you would have been equally offended at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games when people threw the Qatari flags that were distributed for the ceremony straight into the dust bin? Or worse yet, they just left them littered all around the stadium on the ground and in the mud to be trampled all over.
At least now the world has been saved from children playing with balls. Lucky no one 'thinks' that letting small children play with fake guns and grenades is wrong or we would have to ban them as well.
Live and let live, in my opinion.
No? Charan? No China Dolls? Are you serious??
MD - QLers never touch Made in China products :)
Ban Spoon Feeding not Me
And MD, nice comment, bro!
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
staring with the laborers here in my project. I represent them to the Owner of the companies involved in my project and little by little, I saw some improvement. But still very long way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
lol MD...
But it was "Made in China". So it must be fake anyway.
Is you life made any worse by not being able to buy THAT specific ball? No, so please don't moan and act all offended.
Orthodox Jews don't write the name of God and are also very careful about how their religious texts are maintained and destroyed.
Muslims are the same. If you can't understand the basic principle of respect, then...well..oh well.
Plus, conservative Americans get all crazy when people burn their flag. So go fight with the republican base.
speed bhai and jazakallu-khair for such a nobel cause.
I am ready to start 'Labour Accommodation Issue' Campaign with you.
Let me know when should we start ?
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that's the spirit...
ours regarding labor accommodation condition here is still a shout in the wilderness!! We'll wait "till more voices comes out and be heard!!!!!! Don't get us wrong, we praise you for such action! Do we need to raise it here again? It was already mentioned in the newspaper, right.
And all praises is to our God/Allah!!!!!
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
and kind words.
To be honest I never do anything with the intention of publicity or to get appericiations. My intention to use Media is 'Awareness' and this is the only source to reach maximum number of people.
God has rewarded me with a wonderful life which I feel that being a sinful human being I am still blessed by Him. (Alhamdul'Lilah - Thanks God)
What people says will not effect on my believes or will not stop my Volunteer work...
I maintian one thing in our 'QL Volunteer Group' with other Volunteer members that 'We are here to help 'Human Being' regardless of race or religion....
God bless you All
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You can't teach experience...
There is a big difference between doing something intentionally and unintentionally... In some countries stepping on a national flag is an offense.
and for the manufacturer...sometimes your carelessness can cost you a lot!
and great work...
way to go Speed Bhai...
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Have Courage To Live.
Anyone Can Die.
Mabrook Speed..
Cheers
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Heard your wife left you,
How upset you must be.
But don't fret about it...
She moved in with me.
Weldone speed..
and Iam wondering abt the patriotism of some nations flags on lingeries.. mostly UK & US
These flags are printed on paper, stiskers, people take the flags to the football matches and all these are subjected to damage, they can fall on the ground and people may step on them intentionally or not intentionally ... so withdrawing a ball from the locak market does not prevent the damage any way it just makes a small difference ...
Saying that, no one thought of the loss occuring to the manufacturer of this product ...
Just a view ...
"The best way to predict the future is to create it".
just keep it up,.... as they say, you cant please everyone... so well done...
Well done Speed...a true citizen of the world..
Wonder why some people just cant appreciate good deeds..
good
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CONFUSE ............ if you cannot convince!
Well done Speed bhai , Great job
sticker flag, will it be also offensive? I think the understanding of the manufacturer is not to insult but to give importance to the participants.
And do you also condemn burning of flags during protest rallies? Where is it a common scene? Check the intent, not the multiple interpretation!
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
we do care for them too :-) And am sure one day we 'Volunteers' will reach to them by the Grace of Al Mighty God.
We need your prayers and support !
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am proud of you Popat lal.
Yes Speed, you've saved the world from novelty footballs. Good on ya.
MashAllaah Speed! May Allaah make this a heavy reward on your scale!!
Gypsy, I know because it is quite impossible for someone to care about both right?
They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to see it... --George Carlin
Wow....:S You know there are people dying of AIDS in Africa and stuff right??? (I.e. more important things to worry about).
Speed bhai..........
Well done my friend. All these manufacturers jackasses should be kicked and thrown near some Beach's....:)
Well done Speed.. Excellent work..
speed ..yes i do agree with u
,
Emad =>
Speed does it again..welldone.. No flag should be kicked around..
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HE WHO DARES WINS
Great...
March2008
hats off.......!!!
Well done speed... thanks for standing...