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| Afghanistan |
| 'Blasphemous' balls anger Afghans |
| 2007-08-26 |
| A demonstration has been held in south- east Afghanistan accusing US troops of insulting Islam after they distributed footballs bearing the name of Allah. The balls showed the Saudi Arabian flag which features the Koranic declaration of faith. The US military said the idea had been to give something for Afghan children to enjoy and they did not realise it would cause offence. The footballs were dropped from a helicopter in Khost province. Some displayed flags from countries all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, which features the shahada, one of the five pillars of Islam - the declaration of faith. The words, which include the name of Allah, are revered, and Muslims are very sensitive about where and how they can be used. Saudi Arabia has complained to the World Cup's ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on footballs. Mullahs in Afghanistan criticised the US forces for their insensitivity, and around 100 people held a demonstration in Khost. Afghan MP Mirwais Yasini said: "To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country around the world." A spokeswoman for the US forces in Afghanistan said they made "significant efforts to work with local leaders, mullahs and elders to respect their culture" and distributing the footballs was an effort to give a gift the Afghan children would enjoy. "Unfortunately," she added, "there was something on those footballs we didn't immediately understand to be offensive and we regret that as we do not want to offend." |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #16 What part of |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-08-26 23:54 |
| #15 I know that was difficult for you, but I respect you for it. Now, if you'll just give up that genocide ranting... |
| Posted by: Darrell 2007-08-26 22:18 |
| #14 Oh no, Zen, it doesn't have to be an Infidel. Another Muslim will do just fine. They're killing each other faster than the Infidels are killing them. Seething knows no bounds. Please trust just how difficult this is for me, Darrell. But not so difficult that I cannot respond to you who has been such brat to me on previous occasions. You've hit the nailhead and I am obliged to admit it. Everywhere, have I extolled Muslims for their unwonted proclivity in killing each other well above and beyond their own lust for Infidel blood. Indeed, "Seething knows no bounds." If it did, there might be hope for Islam's ultimate survival. Instead, there is |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-08-26 19:59 |
| #13 "A Muslim's day simply isn't complete unless they have taken grievous offense at a totally innocuous gesture made by an Infidel..." Oh no, Zen, it doesn't have to be an Infidel. Another Muslim will do just fine. They're killing each other faster than the Infidels are killing them. Seething knows no bounds. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2007-08-26 17:26 |
| #12 John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! The Gang |
| Posted by: bruce 2007-08-26 17:12 |
| #11 Seriously, this incident was both predictable & avoidable. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-08-26 16:02 |
| #10 This reminds me of the time in the late 80's or early 90's when McDonald's printed up flags of many countries on the wrappers of one of their burgers. Of course they included the flag of Saudi Arabia. Muslims were upset because people were throwing the name of Allan in the trash. My comment at the time was that Muslims needed to lighten up. |
| Posted by: Rambler 2007-08-26 15:19 |
| #9 I'll add, does anyone think these same fuckwits wouldn't have been equally offended if we had given out soccer balls without the Saudi flag on them? It isn't what we do or don't do that insults them. A Muslim's day simply isn't complete unless they have taken grievous offense at a totally innocuous gesture made by an Infidel somewhere on the face of this green earth. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-08-26 13:37 |
| #8 Of course, the fact that said inscription cannot be read without the aid of an electron microscope does not in the least way assuage their anger. Yet another splendid example of just how badly these moron assholes Eggshell egos in a dirt track world. This shit has got to end. Isn't there a way we could devise some truly offensive depiction of Allah and Mohammed in a compromising position that would incite these bastards to begin slicing open their own heads with swords in grief and rage? Maybe we could get them all to bleed themselves to death. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-08-26 13:30 |
| #7 at least they're not Schweddy Balls |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-08-26 11:08 |
| #6 The dreaded Balls of Blasphemy. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-08-26 11:04 |
| #5 You just can't kick around allah's balls that easily, my friend. |
| Posted by: WTF 2007-08-26 10:03 |
| #4 How about a saudi flag on an American football? These are made of pigskin unless I am mistaken. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-08-26 09:49 |
| #3 Yawn. Anything *fun* offends Islam. Nothing to see here. |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie 2007-08-26 08:58 |
| #2 Don't taunt HappyFunBall. Really, just don't. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-08-26 08:23 |
| #1 I'll take one. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-08-26 08:20 |