McDonald's Pulls Happy Meal Toy After Saudis Protest Its 'Disrespect' of Muhammad
Corporate food chain McDonald's has chosen to pull a controversial Happy Meal toy that Saudi citizens say disrespects the prophet Muhammad, founder of the Islamic faith.
The toy in question is a blue action hero figure, presumably a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger samurai warrior, with a blue base. At the base of the toy is printed the word "Muhammad" over and over in circles, according to reports.
What has upset the Saudi public is the action the toy performs. When a lever is pressed, one of the toy's legs stomps on the base -- an action interpreted by many Saudis as the toy trampling on Muhammad's name.
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"[The McDonald's fast food restaurant] abused the Prophet Muhammad by placing his name at the base of a toy that is being distributed as part of the Happy Meal, a toy which steps on the name 'Muhammad,'" Saudi Arabian newspaper Kermalkom.com reported.
The Saudi McDonald's company has removed the toy from its restaurants, although it was dispensed to families and children for several days before the alleged offense was realized.
Angered Saudis have also launched a campaign against the restaurant, entitled "Help your Prophet!" and are "demanding the strongest possible punishment for the restaurant."
According to the Arutz Sheva 7 newswire, the company says it has chosen to remove the toys "in order to safeguard against any accusations or misunderstandings."
Countries with a high Muslim population, such as Saudi Arabia, are often sensitive to references of the faith's founding prophet.
In Jan. 2012, authorities detained a Christian student in Egypt for posting images of the prophet Muhammad on his Facebook page, which many considered to be offensive.
The boy, 17-year old Gamal Massoud, was later given a three-year prison sentence for insulting Muhammad and the religion of Islam, according to court documents.
Besides public outcry, no official punishment has been inflicted on the Saudi McDonald's chain. Data from the CIA suggests that Saudi Arabia's population is 100 percent Muslim.
