May 6, 2013

This parody of an actual product meant to instill tolerance could land the makers in legal hot water. News report by WGN, Chicago.

via Opposing Views

A greeting card picturing a talking Muslim terrorist doll on the front with the message “Hope Your Birthday Is a Blow Out” is causing controversy in Chicago.

The Chicago Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote an official letter to the greeting card maker, NobleWorks Inc., over the card. The doll pictured on the cover wears a traditional headscarf, a Hijab, and messages on her box read “The Talking Doll, Pull string for message, if you dare,” and “She’ll Love You To Death! She’ll Blow Your Brains Out!”

"There are those who will claim Muslims do not have a sense of humor," wrote CAIR-Chicago director Ahmed Rehab. "But one would like to think humor comes with (even a minimal degree of) intelligence."

CAIR-Chicago pointed out card makers may have also infringed on copyright. The dolls are an actual Arabic language product made by Desi Doll Company.

Aamina the Talking Muslim Girl is a bilingual plush doll is described as a “fun way for young children to learn languages” and “learn about Islam and its teachings.” Aamina recites words from the Quran like “As-Salamu-Alaikum” (peace be upon you) and “Insha’llah” (if Allah wills).

The company, ironically called Nobleworks has on its website, (via The Daily Mail):

‘I can only imagine folks and friends,’ writes Kanfi, ‘who receive or read our cards, can help but wonder as to whether laughing is the appropriate thing to do. But as our motto goes: "F**k 'em if they can't take a joke!"’

CAIR responded in kind:

‘The notion that a doll, that looks like any other doll that any little girl in the world would play with, can be presented as a terrorist doll simply and only because it is a “Muslim” doll or because it has a “Muslim scarf” on its head is not what defines “funny” for a lot of people, but bigoted, ugly, idiotic, moronic, etc.’

The Muslim group said it has written an official letter to NobleWorks sharing its concern over the card they say exposes little girls ‘to messaging that criminalizes their basic identity for profit.’

The card appears to have been removed from the NobleWorks website.

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