Lego Accused of Racism With Star Wars Set

Ch_Omega writes "According to this article over at The Telegraph, Lego has been accused of racism by the Turkish community in Austria over a Star Wars model that supposedly resembles one of Istanbul's most revered mosques. The anger was provoked by 'Jabba's Palace,' a model of the home of Jabba the Hutt from Lego's Star Wars product range based on the blockbusting series of science fiction films. 'The terrorist Jabba the Hutt likes to smoke a hookah and have his victims killed,' said the statement posted on the organization's website. 'It is clear that the ugly figure of Jabba and the whole scene smacks of racial prejudice and vulgar insinuations against Asians and Orientals as people with deceitful and criminal personalities.'"

Re:here we go

[tripleevenfall]

I am altering the world. Pray I don't alter it further.

Also in the news....

[Beer_Smurf]

Johnny Cash is also very offended that Darth Vader wears black and is dead.

Re:No It Doesn't

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not sure anyone hypothetically running a toy company should issue a public statement telling people to "grow up".

Re:here we go

[ackthpt]

Is there anything left in the world that the big bad white man hasn't destroyed through 'racism'?

Well, I guess that'll put the skids on the Armenian Genocide play set...

Re:here we go

[idontgno]

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

Re:Actually Naboo Was Based on Hagia Sophia

[Anonymous Coward]

Yea because Muslims NEVER form terrorist groups, blow up innocent people or launder money.

It NEVER HAPPENED.

Are you kidding?

Re:I'm mad too

[MightyMartian]

It puts its stereotypes in the basket!

Re:here we go

[Anonymous Coward]

Nope....

http://www.theonion.com/video/use-of-nword-may-end-porn-stars-career,14174/

Wait, WHICH Hagia Sophia are we talking about?

[argStyopa]

I'd love it if Lego replied:

  "We're not portraying the revered Hagia Sophia mosque of Istanbul (which, btw ISN'T EVEN A MOSQUE since it was secularized in 1931)...no, we're portraying the Hagia Sophia CHURCH, the most holy church in Christendom until it was conquered by 'the religion of peace' in 1453."

What's "whiny bitch" in Byzantine?

Re:Huh?

[geminidomino]

Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople.

I didn't learn this until I had a date in Constantinople and she was waiting in Istanbul.

It could be worse.

[dietdew7]

Thankfully it's not a rectangle with rounded corners.

Re:here we go

[Synerg1y]

I find your belief in faith disturbing.

Re:here we go

[Anonymous Coward]

I find your lack of Star Wars savvy disturbing.

Re:here we go

[war4peace]

If you go back beyond the 1770's, yes, it kind of is :)

Re:Allah Akbar, Han Solo?

[Anonymous Coward]

Throw it?

Re:here we go

[davester666]

Not if I fire first.

Re:Huh?

[Sperbels]

well.. nobody better tell 'em history of hagia sofia either...

You mean that hagia sofia is actually based on Jabba's palace and not the other way around? The movies clearly say at the beginning: "A long time ago...".

Re:here we go

[Synerg1y]

I find my lack of meme knowledge... enlightening.