Kenyan Mosque Offended by Jay Z's T-Shirt Design, Demands Apology from US-Based Kenyan Designer
Leaders of the Riyadha Mosque and Islamic Centre in Lamu have demanded an apology from a US-based Kenyan designer for misusing the mosque’s portrait.
This comes days after US singer and businessman Jay Z was spotted exiting a restaurant in California last week donning a T-shirt bearing the image of the iconic mosque.
The T-shirt was designed by US-based Kenyan designer Zeddie Lukoye of Blkburd Genes, a company that has been on a mission to educate people around the world about history, nature, and current affairs.
“You cannot associate a religious minaret with worldly things. You print a T-shirt with a logo that might end up in clubs and bars,” Riyadha Mosque Secretary-General Abubakar Badawy said in a letter to Lukoye.
Abubakar cited a Facebook post showing a man wearing the T-Shirt with the mosque’s image while performing in a bar, adding that an ‘endorsement’ by a celebrity like Jay-Z is not an honor for the establishment.
“We don’t consider this an honor, nor a privilege, for the historical mosque and its Founder Habib Swaleh for its imagery to be portrayed in such a way. Bars and clubs are an affront to the spiritual respect and dignity of the mosque, its founder, to the congregation, and the general Muslim community within and outside Lamu,” he said.
“We therefore politely request you to show respect for the mosque by removing our Mosque’s portrait on the shirt, to show us that you really do respect the people of Lamu and the Mosque.”
Comments (4)
In all fairness, the intent is not to denigrate the Mosque,taint its image or mock believers of the Muslim faith. That's my Opinion.Having said that, I believe that narrowing down to bars,and clubs as forbidden places for this T-shirt is being short sighted.One cannot control the location the purchaser of this T-shirt should or should not visit,except the wearer.Who knows may be Lukoye had the good intention of having it worn in Religions,and cultural places that portray the Mosque in good light.If that's the case,then in my humble opinion,its not misusing the Portrait. But Its always prudent to caution on the side of sensitivity when dealing with religious images. Make a call or two,just to make sure-could save you alot of grief.
...he is very very lucky.
..he is a DEAD.man
.dont think you 'special'..
Let THIS be an example!
..
No apologies accepted!!
ona hii nugu ya mtu! For Christ sake! lol, watu wa lamu accepted his apologies kasoro wewe!! So all the other T-shirts and mats we buy in Dubai that portray the grand mosque, the owners should be killed?
We will pray for your deliverance! Rishwa, shindwe!
Are you ISIS? If you are offended. It's a t-shirt!