[Wheeljack35]

http://jediinsider.c...=8&itemid=14595

http://weaselzippers...mbles-a-mosque/

Lego has been accused of racism by the Turkish community over a Star Wars toy allegedly depicting a mosque.

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.

[Hordak Rules]

It's Jabba's palace! Good lord, people take things in life far too seriously sometimes. Besides, Lucas has pretty much insulted every cultural race with some character from his movies, it was only fair to take a poke at the Muslims.

[hamsterboy]

Why didn't they say something 30 years ago if it is?

[featofstrength]

hamsterboy, on 23 January 2013 - 11:15 PM, said:

Why didn't they say something 30 years ago if it is?

Without the internet to post videos of burning effigies of George Lucas, guess the best they could do is write a letter to the foreign press or Siskel and Ebert at the Movies.

'F' these guys!

[Flounnderr]

the whole things kinda dumb and kinda correct at the same time. The tower does resemble a minaret and the palace does resemble hagia sophia...but lets not forget the Hagia Sophia was originally a church not a mosque; and secondly these architectural features are usual to the fantasy genre which usually reaches back to the middle ages for inspiration (ie, most sword and sorcery Conan ect). Lucas wanted an eastern feel for Jabba's palace (water-pipe, slave girls, dias with cushions, servants with fans ect..) If I were them, I would take it as a compliment.

BTW I think Hagia Sophia is now a national museum and not even a mosque anymore. And besides, why is making reference to other culture's "racism".

regards
Joshua

[Wheeljack35]

http://jediinsider.c...=8&itemid=14595

Cowards...

Muslims declare victory in fight over 'anti-Islamic' Lego as Denmark promises to axe ‘Jabba’s Palace’ toy

Jabba's Palace will cease production in 2014 but not removed immediately
Turkish Community Forum congratulated Lego for stopping production
Claims that Jabba's Palace set resembles Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque
Describes Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt as resembling a 'terrorist'
Lego denied any link and said the toy was based on the Star Wars movies


Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2PEfMRFCq

[featofstrength]

BOO! LEGO, you @##@@ cowards! Jabba's palace set to be renamed "Scalper's Delight" on ebay listings.

[jedicrippler]

Meh. It's not like they don't usually retire sets after a couple of years anyway. 2014 is pretty much when the set would normally be scheduled for retirement. It's business as usual for LEGO. Heck, the series 9 LEGO minifigure collection is listed as retiring soon on LEGO's site & it was just released around X-Mas. This is a non-issue from LEGO's standpoint. It's just LEGO telling them they "won" when in reality it was probably slated to be discontinued next year anyways. It's too bad people can't bother to fact check things properly.

[featofstrength]

jedicrippler, on 01 April 2013 - 03:47 PM, said:

This is a non-issue from LEGO's standpoint. It's just LEGO telling them they "won" when in reality it was probably slated to be discontinued next year anyways.

Yeah, but still a pretty #$$# way to pass the buck.

[jedicrippler]

What are you talking about? They didn't "pass the buck". They just went ahead & announced that it was going to be discontinued. They've even mentioned on Twitter or somesuch that it was slated to go out of production next year. It's not "passing the buck" or bowing to pressure or anything else. It's the normal business practice for LEGO.