KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Malaysian shoe company has apologized and stopped selling some of its shoes after some Muslims said the logo resembled the Arabic writing of the word God.
Vern's Holdings said the logo on the soles of some of its high-heeled shoes depicts a stiletto heel silhouette with a spiral wrap at the ankle. However, it acknowledged that design deficiencies may have led to misinterpretation of the logo. The company also said it acted immediately to stop sales of the shoes and issue refunds to customers who purchased them.
“We have absolutely no intention of designing a logo that aims to disparage or insult any religion or belief,” Verne said in the statement posted on social media. “The management would like to humbly apologize and ask for forgiveness. We hope for mercy so that we can right this wrong.
Police said Monday they confiscated more than 1,100 shoes from Fern stores. The Islamic Development Department, an agency that handles Islamic affairs in Malaysia, also summoned the company's founder, Ng Chuan Howe.
Local English-language newspaper The Star quoted N.J. as saying that he regretted the discomfort he caused and the harm he caused to the Muslim community. He said: “I hope to learn from the incident and be more careful and sensitive in the future.”
The Islamic Department said that if it is proven that the logo was deliberately created to imitate the word “Allah” in Arabic, legal measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
She also urged companies to remain vigilant on sensitive issues that could threaten the country's ethnic unity.
The controversy over the shoes came after an uproar last month over socks printed with the word “Allah” on the shelves of a major Malaysian supermarket chain. The owners of KK Mart and representatives of one of its suppliers were indicted on March 26 Offending religious feelings Muslims, and some shops were hit by small incendiary bombs. No injuries were reported.
Religion is a A sensitive issue in MalaysiaMuslims make up two-thirds of the population of 34 million, with significant Chinese and Indian ethnic minorities. “Allah,” the Arabic word for God, is sacred to Malaysian Muslims, and many have found it offensive to associate the word with feet.
The matter was revealed after critical posts on social media highlighted the logo's similarity. Religious authorities and police said they were investigating the matter after receiving complaints from the public.
Meanwhile, tensions remained over the previous issue. KK Mart Group, the country's second-largest supermarket chain, said the supplier sent goods that the company had not agreed to store. The founder of the supply company said the socks were imported from China as part of a large shipment and apologized for being negligent in checking them.
The leader of the Malay Nationalist Party's youth wing in the Malaysian government has lobbied for a boycott of the chain and is being investigated for sedition over a social media post in which he appears holding a sword.
Critics say the party is seeking to attract support from ethnic Malays after the heavy losses it suffered in the recent general elections.
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