Wednesday, July 2, 2008 | Reason : Wingnut News | print version

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Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

by Daily Mail

Thanks to Linda Ward Selbie for the link.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1030798/Muslim-outrage-police-advert-featuring-cute-puppy-sitting-policemans-hat.html

Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

A postcard featuring a cute puppy sitting in a policeman's hat advertising a Scottish police force's new telephone number has sparked outrage from Muslims.

Tayside Police's new non-emergency phone number has prompted complaints from members of the Islamic community.

The choice of image on the Tayside Police cards - a black dog sitting in a police officer's hat - has now been raised with Chief Constable John Vine.

Tayside Police caused uproar in the Muslim community after they released this advertisement featuring police puppy Rebel sitting in a hat

The advert has upset Muslims because dogs are considered ritually unclean and has sparked such anger that some shopkeepers in Dundee have refused to display the advert.

Dundee councillor Mohammed Asif said: 'My concern was that it's not welcomed by all communities, with the dog on the cards.

'It was probably a waste of resources going to these communities.

'They (the police) should have understood. Since then, the police have explained that it was an oversight on their part, and that if they'd seen it was going to cause upset they wouldn't have done it.'

Councillor Asif, who is a member of the Tayside Joint Police Board, said that the force had a diversity adviser and was generally very aware of such issues.

He raised the matter with Mr Vine at a meeting of the board.

The chief constable said he was unaware of the concerns and that the force had not sought to cause any upset but added he would look into the matter.

Councillor Asif said: 'People who have shops just won't put up the postcard. But the police have said to me that it was simply an oversight and they did not seek to offend or upset.'

Cards featuring police dog-in-training Rebel have been distributed to communities throughout the area to advertise the single number point of contact for non-emergency calls to the police.

Rebel has proved a popular recruit for Tayside Police after coming through the very first Lothian and Borders Police dog-breeding programme in February.

One of seven German Shepherd pups born in early December, he has now completed his course of inoculations, and is free to venture out onto the streets of Tayside.

A spokesman for Tayside Police said: 'Trainee police dog Rebel has proved extremely popular with children and adults since being introduced to the public, aged six weeks old, as Tayside Police's newest canine recruit.

'His incredible world-wide popularity - he has attracted record visitor numbers to our website - led us to believe Rebel could play a starring role in the promotion of our non-emergency number.

'We did not seek advice from the force's diversity adviser prior to publishing and distributing the postcards. That was an oversight and we apologise for any offence caused.'

Posted: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 | Permalink

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1. Comment #203057 by HunterZolomon on July 2, 2008 at 10:41 am

Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable. What's worse is that the police actually apologized for it...

Other Comments by HunterZolomon

2. Comment #203060 by Verylee on July 2, 2008 at 10:45 am

Images of Dog are forbidden in Islam

Other Comments by Verylee

3. Comment #203061 by al-rawandi on July 2, 2008 at 10:45 am

They haven't met Oinky, the loveable police pig.

More Dhimwits appeasing the Muslims.

I love how Muslims are big on multi-culturalism when they come to the west, but how much multi-culturalism is allowed in Iran? Conversion away from Islam (apostasy) may now be punishable by death. Churches are illegal in Saudi Arabia.

I mean what the fuck, it's not even a two way street.

Other Comments by al-rawandi

4. Comment #203062 by mikes on July 2, 2008 at 10:45 am

It's so cute its outrageous!

Other Comments by mikes

5. Comment #203063 by HourglassMemory on July 2, 2008 at 10:46 am

Ritually unclean?
In what times do we live in??????
MY GOD!
I think I'm not alone in thinking that the only reply to this is the middle finger.
I saw the picture and I just laughed.
These people get offended by everything. ANYTHING!!!!

I just hope Europe and other civilized places around the world don't bent over backwards to take this sort of crap from these people. I hope we don't bend backwards so much that we'll lose our spines.
They're the ones who need to bend over backward. Grow a thicker skin.

This sort of "outrage" really annoys me.
And it annoys me that the police would "not do it" if they knew it would offend.
No! Do it anyway. You're free to do it. It's not going to be a group of "outraged muslims" saying that dogs are "ritually unclean" that should stop you. You should wave at them and keep doing it.
"Feelings hurt" is not an argument. Get over it.

It just seems insane that hundreds of years spent acquiring the freedoms we have today can be thrown aside in a single day, or hour, because of people who come from the outside, just dislike the things they see.

It's like spending hours decorating a house, to the point of reaching rococo, and then one of these people comes in and simply says "I'm offended by that and that and that and that and that. If those things are there I will not feel comfortable in this environment (Because I've read a book and I believe it was written by the actual creator of the universe)."
And of course the police force behaved like a maid: "Yes, sir, certainly sir, that will be removed right away sir. Yes, sir."

Instead of that I'd look at them and punch them for their arrogance. As they lay on the ground I'd say: "I'm not serving you. You're my guest. If you don't like it, keep it to yourself. Nobody ever told you to have your stability of mind depend on trivial matters. I pity you if you did."

Other Comments by HourglassMemory

6. Comment #203065 by Don_Quix on July 2, 2008 at 10:48 am

Muslims? Outraged??? Say it ain't so!

Other Comments by Don_Quix

7. Comment #203066 by phatbat on July 2, 2008 at 10:50 am

I second that - What has the issue of whether a dog is unclean or not got to do with whether or not it should appear in an advert?

Other Comments by phatbat

8. Comment #203067 by al-rawandi on July 2, 2008 at 10:51 am

My rendition of the Muslim experience in Europe....

Immigration officer: "Welcome to England."
Muslim immigrant: "Your hat offends me. Where is my free stuff?"

Other Comments by al-rawandi

9. Comment #203068 by nattyadams on July 2, 2008 at 10:52 am

Say what you will about America, I'm happy that we're not (yet) shamefully grovelling to the hurt sensibilities of religious groups and tripping over ourselves to hand over our right to offend (and therefore the entire concept of true freedom of speech.)

Although it could happen.

Other Comments by nattyadams

10. Comment #203070 by Tezcatlipoca on July 2, 2008 at 10:54 am

Now, now, you all must understand that dogs are ritually unclean because of their amazing sense of smell and the ability to be trained to alert to certain compounds that explode.

Other Comments by Tezcatlipoca

11. Comment #203071 by Dhamma on July 2, 2008 at 10:55 am

Nuts! Seriously, if they don't like it, go BACK! (no I don't have anything against their skin-colour).

Since pictures of their paedophile prophet is also forbidden, maybe I should make a print of a dog pissing on Muhammed.. I bet they'd like that.

Seriously, I wish people start offending them more, eventually they can't be bothered every single time they're "offended". If we don't "respect" them, then why don't they respect the culture they've moved to?

Edit: The purpose of having a dog sitting on the hat beats me though... I actually hope they did it only to offend the idiots.

Other Comments by Dhamma

12. Comment #203073 by catskill on July 2, 2008 at 10:56 am

I wonder how many complaints they really received.

Other Comments by catskill

13. Comment #203075 by mordacious1 on July 2, 2008 at 10:58 am

Not mildly miffed, not slightly upset...OUTRAGED!

So does the fatwa go out on the dog, the hat, the police chief, or the ad guru?

Other Comments by mordacious1

14. Comment #203076 by black wolf on July 2, 2008 at 10:58 am

What?
A minority feels offended. Nobody is infringing on their civil rights or their religious freedom. Nobody forces them to display the ads.
As many here and elsewhere have been saying for months and years, this particular minority is actively seeking out stuff to feel butthurt about. Keeping dogs has been a part of human culture for a time one hundred times longer than their holy book has been around. Dogs have probably saved more lives and made more people happy than Islam ever has. They are an integrated part of Western culture and of many others worldwide.
And the 'force' (one should be calling them the 'wimps' from now on) effing APOLOGIZE for showing a PICTURE of a dog. APOLOGIZE!?!
Within a few years or less, the wimps will be forcing people to keep their dogs indoors because walking them outside might cause some medieval-brained muslim to feel offended. I'm serious. It will happen.
Why not stick a crescent moon and a sword to the Union Jack while you're at it.

Other Comments by black wolf

15. Comment #203077 by Ty_Webb on July 2, 2008 at 10:59 am

Well, I'm outraged that anyone could find that puppy "ritually unclean" and will be expecting an apology from the complainants.

Other Comments by Ty_Webb

16. Comment #203078 by RascoHeldall on July 2, 2008 at 11:00 am

Argh! Why didn't the police just ignore these cretins?! Why should they give two hoots about the superstitious ravings of intellectual half-wits?

Seriously - why does insane stupidity always get given credence if it happens to come from Muslims? If something so egregiously stupid was uttered by any other group - including Christians - it would be laughed at.

Does the fact that Muslim extremists stab and bomb people have anything do with this?

(That last question was rhetorical by the way.)

Other Comments by RascoHeldall

17. Comment #203079 by mummymonkey on July 2, 2008 at 11:00 am

Offensive puppy postcard claim dismissed

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/07/02/newsstory11590817t0.asp

Other Comments by mummymonkey

18. Comment #203081 by Carole on July 2, 2008 at 11:03 am

Jee Zus. This is completely absurd.
I'm off to email

mail@tayside.pnn.police.uk

to tell them I am OUTRAGED at this apology.

edit - sent the email, feel a bit less furious now.

Other Comments by Carole

19. Comment #203082 by al-rawandi on July 2, 2008 at 11:03 am

RascoHelDall,

If you hate dogs, it's okay. But if you hate murderers, child rapists and suicide bombers you are an Islamophobe.

Do you understand how this works now?

Other Comments by al-rawandi

20. Comment #203084 by Gregg Townsend on July 2, 2008 at 11:08 am

Oh, please.

Maybe the advertisement should have used 72 virgins for a mascot.

Other Comments by Gregg Townsend

21. Comment #203086 by qomak on July 2, 2008 at 11:08 am

Let me guess ... is it because the ad uses the image of an animal in a way which is some form of appeal to emotion without having any connection to the actual performance of the police force?

Other Comments by qomak

22. Comment #203087 by GBile on July 2, 2008 at 11:08 am

Dear Councillor Asif,

Hereby I declare your brain ritually unclean. Although you might think that Allah is on your side, the truth is that you share a common ancestor with every dog on earth. Both of you have, for instance, your balls dangling under your bellies.
It could have been you, sitting on the policeman's hat, and Rebel complaining. But, I am sure, Rebel is too smart for that.

Other Comments by GBile

23. Comment #203088 by HunterZolomon on July 2, 2008 at 11:09 am

mummymonkey

Thanks for the clarifying article. These things have a tendency to get blown out of proportion. Even though large parts of the muslim community seem cool with it, this Mr. Asif still seems like a w**ker...

Other Comments by HunterZolomon

24. Comment #203089 by LaTomate on July 2, 2008 at 11:09 am

What a load of cock.

I live in Dundee, too.

:/

Other Comments by LaTomate

25. Comment #203092 by oriole on July 2, 2008 at 11:10 am

That's it. We have got to form a Church of Atheism, decide what we find unclean, and then go screaming to the Newspapers every time we are forced to look at unclean images. Here are some candidates for unclean things: crucifixes, crescent moons, megachurches, plaques with the ten commandments, ...

Other Comments by oriole

26. Comment #203093 by Fanusi Khiyal on July 2, 2008 at 11:11 am

Cue the Muslim fake outrage machine, and our elites crawling on their bellies to apologise. Collection of dhimmis, the lot of them.

The regime change that's really necessary is in Europe.

Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal

27. Comment #203103 by Sh!fty on July 2, 2008 at 11:22 am

I hope we don't bend backwards so much that we'll lose our spines. Where you referering to this?

http://richarddawkins.net/article,2531,Losing-Our-Spines-to-Save-Our-Necks,Sam-Harris

Do you know what the sad part is? Most people (theist) read this and tell me "I don't see why you get all worked up about it".

Other Comments by Sh!fty

28. Comment #203106 by Agathodemon on July 2, 2008 at 11:25 am

What is the matter with the non muslim people in that community? They should be screaming bloody murder. We need to quit accomodating this ---ing nonsense.

Other Comments by Agathodemon

29. Comment #203107 by Koreman on July 2, 2008 at 11:26 am

Nuts. We're seeing the same over-apologizing in the Netherlands. It's pathetic.

Other Comments by Koreman

30. Comment #203110 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 2, 2008 at 11:27 am

Here is a pretty good definition of Islamophobia, even though it is a made-up word with no meaning....

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/Islamophobia.htm

Other Comments by prettygoodformonkeys

31. Comment #203111 by toddaa on July 2, 2008 at 11:28 am

Is there a list of things that don't offend Muslims? I think that would be very helpful. And short.

Other Comments by toddaa

32. Comment #203113 by Meeee on July 2, 2008 at 11:29 am

I am absolutely astounded at the responses here. I truly am. There were similar responses in the comments section at the Daily Mail (and *yes*, I *did* just compare most of you to your average Daily Mail readers).

Read the article again, the Mail's one. Read it and think clearly on what it actually says.

Firstly, it says that some shopkeepers have refused to put the card up in their windows. Ignoring the fact that this has now been proven false, this is entirely within their rights to do so. If the shopkeepers do not want to stock bread for whatever reason, that's their call; don't use the shop.

Secondly, there is no "outrage" expressed within the article, other than in the headline. There is only a polite suggestion that the muslim community probably wouldn't welcome the card. There was no outrage, no protests, no "the police are offending our beliefs!", nothing. Just the suggestion that since the cards are going to go ignored by a certain community, they'll be wasted there. That is a logical suggestion.

Thirdly, nowhere in the article does it suggest that the card has been removed from circulation. An (incredibly polite, compared to other such situations) objection was raised, the issue is being looked into. That is *all* the article said. And, like most of the "outrage" style articles the Daily Mail pumps out, it turned out to be mostly false.

I registered this account solely to submit this comment. The sheer amount of illogical conclusions raised by the comments here actually astonished me:
1) Postcard with dog on it is printed
2) Muslim suggests that maybe muslims won't put it in their shops
3) Police force takes on board this suggestion
Conclusion: Muslims are forcing the police to withdraw a postcard based on their beliefs and they should be ignored and mocked, the police are once again caving into religous pressure, the muslims are taking over the country etc etc...

Even a *child* could see that these conclusions are not logical. The sheer lack of critical thinking on this website of all has honestly shocked me. Especially since it comes from a Daily Mail article.

Other Comments by Meeee

33. Comment #203114 by Sciros on July 2, 2008 at 11:30 am

you share a common ancestor with every dog on earth. Both of you have, for instance, your balls dangling under your bellies.

Which is more than one can say for the police force in question.

Other Comments by Sciros

34. Comment #203116 by steveroot on July 2, 2008 at 11:33 am

17. Comment #20

3079 by mummymonkey on July 2, 2008 at 11:00 am
Offensive puppy postcard claim dismissed

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/07/02/newsstory11590817t0.asp

Well, this Mr. Sarwar seems to have his head on straight. Maybe the other imbeciles who complained were thinking a dog might be laying cable in their own hats. What a bunch of dipthongs, Mr. Sarwar provisionally excepted.
Ste5e

Other Comments by steveroot

35. Comment #203125 by V'Ger on July 2, 2008 at 11:42 am

Keep the good work up you Muslim twats. Your doing a much better job of making your religion a laughing stock than any of us aethiest ever could ;-)

Other Comments by V'Ger

36. Comment #203127 by Stoned_Roses on July 2, 2008 at 11:42 am

I haven't read all of the above posts so apologies if I am repeating, but this is a fucking joke. It should come as no surprise that the Mail has leapt upon the story with its sensationalised reporting.

It's a fucking dog, and a cute one at that. People in Britain generally like dogs and, by the way, they are used widely by the police force. Why a picture of one can cause offence is frankly beyond me. Unless it's something to do with the hat?

Yes, it must be the hat.

Other Comments by Stoned_Roses

37. Comment #203128 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on July 2, 2008 at 11:43 am

Whenever these stories are investigated it turns out its one or two pricks. There's one thing I will never do, and that's trust a Daily Mail story.

Another Daily Mail story about immigration and white Christian culture. Why are these posted so fucking often.

N.B And before you start Fanusi just no, I agree with your assessment of Islam, always have.

A postcard featuring a cute puppy sitting in a policeman's hat advertising a Scottish police force's new telephone number has sparked outrage from Muslims.

Tayside Police's new non-emergency phone number has prompted complaints from members of the Islamic community.

...

Tayside Police caused uproar in the Muslim community after they released this advertisement featuring police puppy Rebel sitting in a hat.

The advert has upset Muslims because dogs are considered ritually unclean and has sparked such anger that some shopkeepers in Dundee have refused to display the advert.

MOST DAILY MAIL READERS STOP READING HERE AND CRY BLOODY PAKIS, BLOODY BROWNIES, BLOODY OTHERS. RIGHT TIME TO IRON MY ST. GEORGES CROSS.

Other Comments by ThoughtsonCommonToad

38. Comment #203130 by phasmagigas on July 2, 2008 at 11:48 am

pathetic.

i suppose the dogs wont be used to help to apprehend muslim offenders or help muslims where need arises??

once again, religious nonsense trumps all. although asuming it is from the daily mail its a case of 'their stupidity is worse than our stupidity'

Other Comments by phasmagigas

39. Comment #203132 by MAVERICKMAN on July 2, 2008 at 11:50 am

Man at Police Station: "I've just lost my dog."
Policeman: "Why don't you put an advertisement in the local newspaper?"
Man: "Don't be bloody stupid, my dog can't read!"

Other Comments by MAVERICKMAN

40. Comment #203133 by beauroland on July 2, 2008 at 11:52 am

Um -- I'm pretty sure this is an Onion-style spoof demonstrating the ridiculousness of religious pandering. If it's not, I'm crawling into a hole and never coming out.

Other Comments by beauroland

41. Comment #203137 by black wolf on July 2, 2008 at 11:57 am

Ok, many of us got a false impression. Until anything further ensues, I retract my statement above. It was apparently unwarranted.
I still find it curious that some apparently unverified complaints prompt a public statement to appease potential protests. I think it's already too much that a 'diversity advisor' would theoretically advise to replace such a completely harmless image. Diversity - ur doing it rong.

Other Comments by black wolf

42. Comment #203138 by Steve Zara on July 2, 2008 at 11:59 am

Comment #203128 by ThoughtsonCommonToad

I totally support you on this.

The Daily Mail is an appalling "newspaper". It thrives by manufacturing scare stories, about immigration, about cultures, about health, about anything.

Nothing posted with the Daily Mail as source should be considered accurate without further investigation.

To be honest, I am rather disappointed that a story from that source has been posted on this "clear thinking oasis".

Other Comments by Steve Zara

43. Comment #203140 by PaulJ on July 2, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Thanks for the reality check Meeee, but I think you're being slightly disingenuous. From the Daily Mail article:

A postcard featuring a cute puppy sitting in a policeman's hat advertising a Scottish police force's new telephone number has sparked outrage from Muslims.

(emphasis added)

The advert has upset Muslims because dogs are considered ritually unclean and has sparked such anger that some shopkeepers in Dundee have refused to display the advert.

(emphasis added)

Other Comments by PaulJ

44. Comment #203141 by Cartomancer on July 2, 2008 at 12:07 pm

The operative question here is one of police effectiveness. Of course it's a damnably silly thing to be offended by, and anyone who does feel such offense should get over themselves and start living in the real world. Nevertheless, with the muslim community in a substantial number of areas already feeling isolated and victimised by the police, forcing this sort of thing on them would be counter-productive. Since the campaign is all about raising consciousness to the new non-emergency number, it has de facto failed if it is refused by people who would spread the message. A very simple solution would be to produce an alternative postcard for people who don't like dogs with a cat or a budgie or the precocious tenth century arab polymath Avicenna sat in the hat.

That's assuming it's any more than one or two people. If it's not, just put the cards up on public noticeboards and in nearby shops run by people who don't have a problem. Or send them to people's houses.

Other Comments by Cartomancer

45. Comment #203144 by Matt H. on July 2, 2008 at 12:09 pm

Immigration officer: "Welcome to England."
Muslim immigrant: "Your hat offends me. Where is my free stuff?"

Sadly true. Muslims seem to feel they should be given special status. All people are equal, but Muslims are more equal than others.

Other Comments by Matt H.

46. Comment #203146 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on July 2, 2008 at 12:11 pm

Comment #203138 by Steve Zara

I agree. I can only assume it's the fact the site has an American bias somewhat. For example I doubt an article from the National Enquirer (I wish I knew a better comparison, it would probably be titled WASPs Daily with an extra dash of KKK) would ever be posted.

Other Comments by ThoughtsonCommonToad

47. Comment #203149 by Edamus on July 2, 2008 at 12:15 pm

What...?
Outraged, really? Is that a correct use of the word?
I reserve that for Child Molesters or Honor Killing or Holocaust Deniers... But, a picture of a dog? Come on...

Stupid.

Other Comments by Edamus

48. Comment #203150 by Kergillian on July 2, 2008 at 12:15 pm

That's just ridiculous.

I think the Muslims are having a joke on the Brits.

First the Three Little Pigs, now puppies... I swear, it's one big joke.

Other Comments by Kergillian

49. Comment #203153 by Paula Kirby on July 2, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Of course Muslims are offended. The dog should be wearing a burqa.

Seriously, though, I'd echo the note of caution being sounded by a number of other contributors. Any article from the Daily Mail should be viewed with suspicion.

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

50. Comment #203156 by Steve Zara on July 2, 2008 at 12:19 pm

Comment #203146 by ThoughtsonCommonToad

I think "Fox News" is probably an appropriate comparison. The Daily Mail ranks alongside Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly in terms of neutrality and reliability.

Other Comments by Steve Zara

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