Apple store controversy: Selective MEMRI

Kaaba-esque

Recently, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) stated that an anonymous Islamic website in the Middle East urged Muslims to show their outrage at the Apple Store in New York City, which built a pavilion coincidentally resembling the cube shape of the Ka’aba, the ancient structure in Mecca towards which all Muslims pray (the actual structure is glass, though MEMRI referenced a black plywood cover during construction). Predictibly, the post brought out cries of indignation from people upset that Muslims would be offended (yet again). But missing in the report was the name of the purported website, why it was considered authoritative on the matter, or any actual offended Muslims (our straw poll garnered a collective shrug, along with much respect for Steve Jobs, himself the son of an Arab). It’s not the first time the controversial organisation has selectively framed an issue to show Muslims in a less than positive light, nor is it the only instance of pre-emptive outrage attributed to Muslims in recent months. Take the case of a Kate Moss advertisment across the street from a New York mosque. The idea that Muslims might be offended by this went from blog post to mainstream media, somehow becoming “hundreds” of Muslims “infuriated” along the way. Nobody bothered to ask Muslims, though. In fact, no Muslim ever complained. A similar story happened when a UK art gallery pulled some sexually explicit art pieces depicting young girls so as to not “shock the population” of Muslims who live in their east London neighborhood. As with the above, no Muslims actually complained, but it didn’t matter – the damage was done, and Muslims were labeled anti-art without even having a say in the matter. The list goes on. A British school bans children’s stories about pigs so that Muslims won’t get offended – again no Muslim complained (“It is rather sad,” commented UK imam Ibrahim Mogra. “Muslims would not find the Three Little Pigs offensive.”). A German opera last week cancelled a performance in which the leaders of various religions were beheaded, again citing Muslim sensibilities – even though, again, no Muslims complained, and the opera was performed three years ago without incident. Despite the reaction of the Muslim world to the Danish Muhammad cartoons – which probably drove much of the paranoia behind these decisions – Muslims in the west have a thicker skin than most people think, and the vast majority aren’t looking to impose their values on others. But in the case of the (selective) MEMRI account, where at least one Muslim did (allegedly) complain about the NYC Apple Store, it seems that whenever a lone Muslim says something incendiary – even when it is an anonymous person hiding in a cave somewhere – his words are taken to somehow represent all Muslims. When whole groups of Muslims issue condemnations of terrorism, they are treated as “brave but isolated cries”, or worse, ignored. In MEMRI’s case, the mainstream media has already begun reporting it as fact. When it comes to Muslims, everyone loves a rumor.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.