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January 06, 2007
Muslims Protest Fast Food Franchise
Muslims Protest Fast Food Franchise
Satire
Written by Ayers Lampblack, a retired columnist and news editor, grain elevator weigh scale operator and Ernest Borgnine stunt double. He makes his home in Cosmos, Minn.
CHICAGO—The debut of a new theme restaurant in suburban Chicago featuring a menu of foods forbidden by Islamic law and waitresses clad in revealing uniforms has sparked an uproar among local Muslims who claim the restaurant is an affront to Islam.
The December 27 opening of a Burqa King franchise in Winnetka and the subsequent furor over the establishment’s dining theme has drawn the attention of local Muslim clerics and activists, and aimed a spotlight on former Bush Administration Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Officials with Winnetka Holy Outreach to Counsel and Advise Islamic Religious Sects (WHOCAIRS) announced Wednesday that they would organize a demonstration and prayer vigil outside the newly opened restaurant near the intersection of Tower and Foxdale Road to protest what one organizer called the restaurant’s “insensitivity to culinary diversity.”
“Not only can Muslims not sit at the lunch counter here, Muslims cannot even enter this den of humiliation,” said WHOCAIRS Executive Director Ibrahim Bertrand-Reynolds. “This establishment represents a new low in offensiveness.”
Critics noted the Burqa King menu, which features a variety of haram, or unlawful food in Muslim culture, includes frog legs and pork rinds as appetizers; slabs of barbecued pork ribs, blood sausage and ham as entrees; and desserts made from gelatin produced from pork byproducts. All fried food served at Burqa King is cooked in lard, which contains pig fat and is subsequently forbidden by Islamic law.
The restaurant serves beer and has applied for a liquor license with plans to open a full-service bar on the premises. Traditional Muslims are not permitted to consume alcohol except for medicinal purposes.
“To offer only food that is not halal (lawful) is just another egregious example of the indignity we must endure,” said Omar al Akbar al Abdul, an imam from nearby Northbrook
The manager of the restaurant, 53-year-old Craig Baker of Champaign-Urbana, admitted al Akbar al Abdul and others were entitled to their opinion but said he was not considering any changes in response to the planned protests. “These people need to get a hobby or something. I mean, it’s a restaurant, OK?” said Baker. “Besides, what are they gonna do, like, saw my head off with a dull knife on the Internet?”
The nature of the food at Burqa King is not the only thing upsetting area Muslims. Waitresses are required to wear abbreviated burqas with sheer veils, stockings and garters, and high heeled shoes, revealing more of their bodies than the traditional garment worn by many Muslim women.
“This is a great disgrace upon the burqa and the modesty of our women,” said Abdul al Omar al Akbar, a Muslim activist from Chicago. “Humiliating Muslim women in such a way is not in keeping with our long tradition of forbidding women from learning to read, drive or balance a checkbook.”
There is also speculation that political overtones accompanied the opening of this particular Burqa King. Al Akbar al Abdul questioned whether the restaurant was located in Winnetka as a way of honoring Rumsfeld, who was born there in 1932.
“I cannot remain silent when this Satan [Rumsfeld] is honored by the opening of such an offensive establishment,” said al Akbar al Abdul, who threatened additional prayer protests on the H Concourse at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport if the restaurant is not forced by village officials to change its menu or close.
Others in the religious community were less concerned with the establishment. “I keep Kosher, they don’t keep Kosher. This bothers me why?” said Rabbi Shlomo Garfinkle with the Temple Bnai Shalom synagogue in Skokie. Jews also do not eat the types of food offered on the Burqa King menu, but Garfinkle failed to understand the intensity of the furor. “All this mishegas over a menu? I don’t eat pork either, but I have better things to do.”
Wild Thing's comment.....
It's getting harder and harder to recognize the parodies these days.
Posted by Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 12:55 AM
Comments
OH DEAR ME WILDTHING - I AM SITTING HERE ON MY COMPUTER CRYING WITH UNCONTROLLABLE LAUGHTER!!!! OH SH*T, MY RIBS HURT........LOL LOL LOL !!!!!!!! YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T POST THESE THINGS......THEY ARE A HEALTH HAZARD!! LOL..LOL..LOL!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Lyn in Australia at January 6, 2007 06:41 AM
Why is it that I can actually see this taking place if it were, one day, true that someone opened this sort of restaurant?
Posted by: vilmar at January 6, 2007 07:01 AM
Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too.
Posted by: sierrahome at January 6, 2007 07:12 AM
That is funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!
It made my day!
Posted by: Lynn at January 6, 2007 08:25 AM
I had posted this picture on my blog several months ago and wrote an accompanying satire also it's still up, if you get a chance check it out. Mine was titled Muslim coke heads dicovered in Mecca.
Posted by: Billy at January 6, 2007 10:30 AM
I cracked up reading this. Don't you know even satire is not allowed in moslem circles. Remember the Danish cartoons!
I wish I had the resources to open a food establishment just like this, next to and upwind from a mosque.
I can imagine the above photo as cheapo Ripple wine bottles.
Posted by: TomR at January 6, 2007 11:40 AM
Lyn in Australia, heh heh. Me too I laughed so hard.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 12:46 PM
Vilmar, I would love a place like this to open up. hahaha My husband said we could go to it and I could wear my Infidel t-shirt. hahaha
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 12:47 PM
Sierrahome....hahahaha
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 12:48 PM
Lynn, haha me too. I love humor like this. The guy did a great job writing it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 12:49 PM
Billy, oh my gosh. That is great! I love your posts at your blog so much! I am going to go see it right now. Thank you Billy.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 12:51 PM
Tom, Hahahahahaa (cheapo Ripple wine bottles) that would be sooo funny.
I agree, gosh I would love to see places like this exist.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 12:53 PM
Chrissie,
That was funneee. Thanks.
Posted by: raz0r at January 6, 2007 06:22 PM
Hi razOr, I am glad you liked it. I love fun things and this was a good one.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 6, 2007 10:52 PM
