“Star Wars Episode VII” has started production for a summer 2015 release, but the universe is under attack now — with charges of “insensitivity” by the Turkish Cultural Community of Austria.
The Daily Mail reports:
“Lego has been accused of racism by the Turkish community over a Star Wars toy allegedly depicting a mosque.
“The critics claim that the Jabba’s Palace model, part of Lego’s Star Wars range, offends Muslims as it resembles the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul — one of the world’s most renowned mosques.”
Decades ago, George Lucas and his creative team built structures that share engineering similarities with a mosque and a minaret, an act that now apparently constitutes cultural insensitivity. The Islamic group took issue with the “terrorists” who inhabit Jabba the Hutt’s palace, interpreting the scoundrels of Tatooine as some sort of cultural dig at the Muslim faith.
The Turkish Cultural Community of Austria might want to take note: Mr. Lucas has taken political pot shots at individuals using his work, but most of them were aimed at former President George W. Bush. The billionaire behind the franchise — and avid Obama supporter — is most certainly not subversively attacking Islam through plastic Legos.
To definitively get to the bottom of this controversy, it would be interesting to interview director “Theo” van Gogh. Mr. van Gogh created the documentary “Submission” with Somali activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali. But he’s dead — murdered by Islamic extremists. French intelligence agent Denis Allex would be the next logical choice, but he’s also dead — murdered by Islamic extremists in Algeria.
Murder by religious fanatics is culturally “insensitive.” Plastic toys created by Lego are not, and leaders who placate the perpetually aggrieved only make the former more likely in the future.
