Anime DVDs pulled after Muslims protest
'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure' called offensive
By Gavin J. Blair
May 22, 2008, 01:28 PM
TOKYO -- Shueisha Inc. has pulled an anime DVD series based on a popular manga after protests from Muslims about the negative portrayal of the Koran, the publisher said Thursday.
An episode of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" featured a villain looking at a copy of the Koran before ordering the killing of the hero and his companions, in a story set in Egypt.
Shueisha said the illustrators were unable to read Arabic and therefore unaware that the featured text came from the Islamic holy book, saying it was included to give "authenticity." The book doesn't appear in the original manga.
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In this case, I do felt the fault is on both sides, the Japanese for not consulting research properly and the Islamic ulama for over reacting to a mere entertainment medium.
But this is a replay of sectarian senstivity to protrayal of any associated memes in popular media.
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