Home Business Amazon pulls bath mats with Quran verses

Business

Amazon pulls bath mats with Quran verses

CBS Report

January 8, 2019

382

Amazon pulls "offensive" bath mats and doormats with Quran verses

By Megan Cerullo

Updated on: January 8, 2019 / 1:12 PM / MoneyWatch

Amazon removed home goods — including doormats and bath mats — featuring verses from the Quran from its website last week after advocates for Muslim civil rights said the items with references to Islam's holy text were offensive.

Amazon's move came after the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement saying it took issue with the products, which it expected "would be stepped on or otherwise disrespected by customers."

The online retailer subsequently removed the products, offered by a third-party seller, from its site.

"Amazon was not the problem. I'm sure Amazon was not aware of these things. They sell a lot of products and once we brought it to their attention, they were quite good about it," said CAIR's communications director, Ibrahim Hooper. "They have taken down the products that we have been able to identify," he added.

CAIR issued a statement Friday in appreciation of Amazon's action. "The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed online retailer Amazon's removal of a number of doormats, bath mats and other items, imprinted with Islamic calligraphy, references to the Prophet Muhammad and verses from the Quran, Islam's holy text," it read in part.

Amazon bests Microsoft to become most valuable company in U.S.

Hooper doesn't believe that Emvency, the China-based manufacturer of the items, intended to offend with its products: "What you have is a company that has a product, and they find hundreds of images and put these images on their products hoping they will sell it, without really thinking about it," he said.

Hooper said no religious imagery or text should adorn lavatories. "It's just not appropriate on the floor of a bathroom or on a toilet seat," he said.

The controversial items were found to be in violation of Amazon's retail policy, the company said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. Amazon is sweeping the site for similarly offensive items, CAIR said.

CAIR in the past has urged retailers to halt sales of items it says are offensive, including a Nike shoe with a logo that bore resemblance to "Allah," the Arabic word meaning God.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said he hopes Amazon's move "sends a message to manufacturers of such inappropriate and offensive items that they will not profit from Islamophobia or any other form of bigotry."

First published on January 8, 2019

How to watch Trump's prime-time address tonight

This is President Trump's first prime-time address from the Oval Office

updated 1M ago

Police investigating second death at Democratic donor's home

Democratic Party donor Ed Buck has contributed to various California races and causes

updated 2M ago

Trump to give prime-time address to the nation — live updates

It will be his first time addressing the nation in prime time from the Oval Office

updated 18M ago

Amazon pulls bath mats with Quran verses

Amazon stopped selling home product featuring Quran verses in response to backlash from Muslim civil rights advocates

updated 18M ago

Regina King gets support for her Golden Globes vow

In her acceptance speech at Sunday night's Golden Globes, King vowed to hire 50 percent women for all her production projects going forward

updated 22M ago

How to watch Trump's prime-time address tonight

This is President Trump's first prime-time address from the Oval Office

updated 1M ago

Police investigating second death at Democratic donor's home

Democratic Party donor Ed Buck has contributed to various California races and causes

updated 2M ago

Trump to give prime-time address to the nation — live updates

It will be his first time addressing the nation in prime time from the Oval Office

updated 18M ago

Russian lawyer in Trump Tower meeting charged

The case involving Natalia Veselnitskaya isn't related to the Trump Tower meeting with top Trump campaign officials

1H ago

Previewing Trump's prime-time address to the nation

It will be his first prime-time address from the Oval Office

2H ago

London's Heathrow Airport suspends departures after reported drone sighting

Officials said Heathrow Airport suspended departures as precaution

updated 21M ago

"El Chapo" hitman kept a soundproof "murder room," witness says

"He took me once to a house, where the floor was just white, tiled," the witness reportedly said of "Jaguar"

2H ago

U.S. Navy veteran reportedly jailed in Iran since July

State Department won't confirm arrest of Californian Michael White, but he would be at least the 4th U.S. national locked up in the Islamic Republic

2H ago

Saudis "satisfied" as young woman's asylum bid assessed in Thailand

Thai immigration official meets Saudi reps in Bangkok, as conservative Islamic kingdom dismisses teen's appeal as a "family affair"

5H ago

Turkey rejects U.S. request to spare allied Kurds in Syria

John Bolton set to depart Turkey without meeting leader in apparent snub over disagreements about U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters

5H ago

Regina King gets support for her Golden Globes vow

In her acceptance speech at Sunday night's Golden Globes, King vowed to hire 50 percent women for all her production projects going forward

updated 22M ago

Kevin Spacey pulled over for speeding after court appearance

Kevin Spacey pleaded not guilty to groping 18-year-old in first criminal case brought against disgraced actor

2H ago

Jackson endorses congresswoman's use of "motherf*****"

"I just wanna Wholeheartedly endorse your use of & clarity of purpose when declaring your (expletive) goal," the actor told Tlaib on Twitter

18H ago

Stars break gender norms at Golden Globes

When male stars hit the red carpet in sheer and sparkly tops, eye makeup and heels, it can be a beacon of light for trans youth throughout America

21H ago

Christian Bale thanks Satan at Golden Globes

After saying he portrayed a charisma-free man reviled by everyone in "Vice," Bale suggested, "What do you think, Mitch McConnell next?"

Jan 7

Second grader wins Google Doodle contest

She's only in second grade, but she just got one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a paleontologist

updated 56M ago

Amazon surpasses Microsoft as most valuable U.S. company

Stock market's recent turmoil has shifted the fortunes of America's biggest companies as Apple falls to No. 4

17H ago

Running blind

A rare condition that left Simon Wheatcroft completely blind by age 27 has not slowed the marathon runner down, as he tests new technologies he hopes will help the visually-impaired

Jan 6