Lego has been
accused of racism by the Turkish community over a Star Wars toy allegedly
depicting a mosque.
accused of racism by the Turkish community over a Star Wars toy allegedly
depicting a mosque.
The group has criticised Lego’s design saying it resembles the
Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, one of the world’s most recognisable
mosques. The critics claim that the Jabba’s Palace model, part of Lego’s
Star Wars range, offends Muslims as it resembles the Hagia Sophia mosque in
Istanbul – one of the world’s most renowned mosques.
Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, one of the world’s most recognisable
mosques. The critics claim that the Jabba’s Palace model, part of Lego’s
Star Wars range, offends Muslims as it resembles the Hagia Sophia mosque in
Istanbul – one of the world’s most renowned mosques.
Members of the Turkish Cultural
Community of Austria group also accused the toy manufacturer of depicting
Asians as having “deceitful and criminal personalities”. The
group has released a statement calling for an apology from Lego for its
cultural insensitivity. The Lego set is based on the home of Jabba the
Hutt, a central character in the Star Wars series, who lives in a domed palace,
with a separated watchtower. As well as bearing a likeness to the Hagia
Sophia mosque, the Turkish group also claimed the toy takes its design from the
Jami al-Kabir mosque in Beirut – while the watchtower is said to resemble a
minaret.
Community of Austria group also accused the toy manufacturer of depicting
Asians as having “deceitful and criminal personalities”. The
group has released a statement calling for an apology from Lego for its
cultural insensitivity. The Lego set is based on the home of Jabba the
Hutt, a central character in the Star Wars series, who lives in a domed palace,
with a separated watchtower. As well as bearing a likeness to the Hagia
Sophia mosque, the Turkish group also claimed the toy takes its design from the
Jami al-Kabir mosque in Beirut – while the watchtower is said to resemble a
minaret.
A post on the community’s website
contains a picture of the slug-like creature’s Lego home, pointing out
similarities with the Istanbul mosque. Outraged Muslims have criticised
the toy producer on the community’s website, accusing it of deliberately
placing contextual errors in the toy. The case came to light when a
Turkish man expressed his dissatisfaction with the toy after it was purchased
for his son by a family member. After investigating, Dr Melissa Günes,
General Secretary of the Turkish Cultural Community, said that Lego had been
contacted with an official complaint. A statement posted on the
organisation’s website refers to Jabba the Hutt as a “terrorist” and
says that he “likes to smoke hookah and have his victims killed”.
contains a picture of the slug-like creature’s Lego home, pointing out
similarities with the Istanbul mosque. Outraged Muslims have criticised
the toy producer on the community’s website, accusing it of deliberately
placing contextual errors in the toy. The case came to light when a
Turkish man expressed his dissatisfaction with the toy after it was purchased
for his son by a family member. After investigating, Dr Melissa Günes,
General Secretary of the Turkish Cultural Community, said that Lego had been
contacted with an official complaint. A statement posted on the
organisation’s website refers to Jabba the Hutt as a “terrorist” and
says that he “likes to smoke hookah and have his victims killed”.
It adds: “It is clear that the ugly figure of Jabba and the
whole scene smacks of racial prejudice and vulgar insinuations against Asians
and Orientals as people with deceitful and criminal personalities.”
whole scene smacks of racial prejudice and vulgar insinuations against Asians
and Orientals as people with deceitful and criminal personalities.”
The statement says that the figures
in the set are made to resemble “terrorists, criminals and
murderers”. Referring to weapons contained in the set, the statement
suggests that the “combination of temple building and bunker facilities
where shots are fired cannot be appropriate for children between 9 and 14 years
old”.
in the set are made to resemble “terrorists, criminals and
murderers”. Referring to weapons contained in the set, the statement
suggests that the “combination of temple building and bunker facilities
where shots are fired cannot be appropriate for children between 9 and 14 years
old”.
It concludes: “One would expect
more empathy and responsibility from a manufacturer of toys that has produced
toys and models that are good for teaching for decades.” The
organisation also says it is planning legal action in Austria, Germany and
Turkey against the toy firm if it does not get a satisfactory response.
more empathy and responsibility from a manufacturer of toys that has produced
toys and models that are good for teaching for decades.” The
organisation also says it is planning legal action in Austria, Germany and
Turkey against the toy firm if it does not get a satisfactory response.
Lego’s Katharina Sasse said:
“The Lego Star Wars product Jabba’s Palace does not reflect any actually
existing buildings, people, or the mentioned mosque. The Lego mini-figures
are all modelled on characters from the movie.”
“The Lego Star Wars product Jabba’s Palace does not reflect any actually
existing buildings, people, or the mentioned mosque. The Lego mini-figures
are all modelled on characters from the movie.”
“We regret that the product has
caused the members of the Turkish cultural community to come to a wrong
interpretation, but point out that when designing the product only the
fictional content of the Star Wars saga were referred to.
caused the members of the Turkish cultural community to come to a wrong
interpretation, but point out that when designing the product only the
fictional content of the Star Wars saga were referred to.
Source: huffingtonpost
