The latest public figure to stand accused of defiling the Prophet Mohammed is not some Danish cartoonist, or French newspaper editor, but a hapless British Page 3 girl called Emma B, according to a report in the British newspaper, the Independent (February 9)
The previous day the erotic retailer Ann Summers unveiled Miss B as the “face” of its new range of products.
Not 24 hours later, she finds herself on the front line of Islamic protest after Muslim leaders discovered that the range includes a new blow-up doll, called “Mustafa Shag”.
Unfortunately, Mustafa was one of the names given to the Prophet Mohammed. Bestowing it upon, in the words of its catalogue, “an inflatable escort for your hen-night adventures” is considered highly offensive. The catagogue adds “Mustafa comes with his own penis. Blow him hard to inflate him and watch his 7 incher come to life.”
The Manchester Central Mosque has already written to the firm, calling on it to withdraw the product.
“You have no idea how much hurt, anguish, and disgust this obnoxious phrase ["Mustafa Shag"] has caused to Muslim men, women and children,” reads their letter.
“We are asking you to please relent on compassionate grounds, and have our Most Reverend Prophet’s Name “Mustafa” (Peace Be Upon Him) and the afflicted word ’shag’ removed as soon as possible.”
Ann Summers was last night examining options, though its chief executive Jacqueline Gold was reluctant to withdraw the item from sale.
“We don’t want to offend, but this feels like political correctness gone mad,” she said. “If anyone has a better name for a blow-up doll, please let us know.”
A day later, after the story received extensive press coverage, Ann Summers reported a a huge demand for Mustafa - so big in fact that the company said that it looked as if they would have difficulty supplying stocks to people wanting the doll.
The moral of the story is that if you want to boost sales of a product, make sure that it raises the wrath of religious nuts, then laugh all the way to the bank.
One last thought: how galling it must be for those who attacked the Mustafa doll not be be able to call for a Muslim boycott of Ann Summers. That would have been like specifically calling for a boycott of Danish bacon.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
July 27th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Surely they could only see it being a doll of the prophet if it were marketed to 9 year old girls. Just like the one old Mo married