Apple's NY Fifth Avenue store is an 'insult to Islam'

Ka'ba lookalike ruffles feathers

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

11th October 2006 15:06 GMT

According to a report on The Middle East Media Research Institute, Apple's NY Fifth Avenue store has been slammed by "an Islamic website" as a "new insult to Islam".

The reason? Well, it resembles the Muslims' sacred Ka'ba, situated in the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca:

Apple's Fifth Avenue Store and the Ka'ba

The "Islamic website" claims that since the offending structure is known as the "Apple Mecca", and "contains bars selling alcoholic beverages", it constitutes "a blatant insult to Islam". The site accordingly calls on Muslims to spread the word in the hope that "Muslims will be able to stop the project".

Sadly, it's a bit late for that, since the store opened for business back in May. We do have some good news, though. As far as we're aware it's not called the "Apple Mecca", it does not serve alcoholic beverages, and neither Jack Straw nor Salman Rushdie work behind the counter. ®