Author Topic: Muslim Barbie Dolls  (Read 1417 times)

Offline mrblack

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Muslim Barbie Dolls
« on: October 09, 2003, 01:40:26 AM »
This is getting silly!!
Are we still in America?

LIVONIA, Mich. - At first glance, this new girl on the block doesn't give Barbie much of a run for her money. After all, Barbie is everything Razanne is not — curvaceous, flashy and loaded with sex appeal.


AP Photo
 

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But that's exactly why many Muslim Americans prefer Razanne, with her long-sleeved dresses, head scarf and, by her creator Ammar Saadeh's own admission, a not-so-buxom bustline.


For Saadeh, the doll not only fills a marketing void but also offers Muslim girls someone they can relate to.


"The main message we try to put forward through the doll is that what matters is what's inside you, not how you look," said Saadeh, who set up NoorArt Inc. with his wife and a few other investors.


The Livonia-based company, founded about seven years ago, sells the Razanne doll and a number of other toys geared toward Muslim children.


"It doesn't matter if you're tall or short, thin or fat, beautiful or not, the real beauty seen by God and fellow Muslims is what's in your soul," he said.


Razanne has the body of a preteen. The doll comes in three types: fair-skinned blonde, olive-skinned with black hair, or black skin and black hair.


Her aspirations are those of a modern Muslim woman. On the drawing board for future dolls are Dr. Razanne and possibly even Astronaut Razanne. There's also Muslim Girl Scout Razanne, complete with a cassette recording of the Muslim Scout's oath.


What sets Razanne apart from her few competitors is that she "holds a global appeal for Muslim girls," Saadeh said. That image encouraged Mimo Debryn, of West Bloomfield Township, to buy the doll for her daughter, Jenna, four years ago.


"Razanne looks like the majority of women around Jenna," said Debryn. "She loves that doll and always took care of her, giving Razanne a special place in her room, treating her with respect.


"Jenna never tried to take Razanne's hijab (head scarf) off, though Barbie was usually stripped naked," she said as her daughter, 11, curled up on the couch and smiled.


In the United States, Mattel, which makes Barbie, markets a Moroccan Barbie and sells a collector's doll named Leyla. Leyla's elaborate costume and tale of being taken as a slave in the court of a Turkish sultan are intended to convey the tribulations of one Muslim girl in the 1720s.


"It's no surprise that they'd try to portray a Middle Eastern Barbie either as a belly dancer or a concubine," said Saadeh, adding that countering such stereotypes was one of his main aims in developing Razanne.


Mattel didn't respond to repeated calls seeking comment.


Laila, the Arab League's answer to Barbie, offered girls of the league's 22-member states a culturally acceptable alternative to Barbie's flashy lifestyle. But she never made it to store shelves. Sara and Dara were launched a couple of years ago — Iran's version of Barbie and her beau, Ken. The two were offshoots of a children's cartoon in Iran.


But Saadeh said those dolls are more "cultural and don't have mass appeal in the Middle East."


Saadeh hopes to capture that market. Razanne will soon be marketed in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and make greater inroads in southeast Asia.

   



The doll is sold throughout the United States, Canada, Singapore and Germany. Saadeh would not reveal the doll's sales figures, but he said retail sales over the company's Web site account for a majority of the almost 30,000 dolls sold per year.

Prices range from $9.99 for a single doll to $24.99 for a set like Teacher Razanne that includes a briefcase and other accessories.

Saudi Arabia's religious police recently declared Barbie dolls a threat to morality, complaining that the revealing clothes are offensive to Islam.

Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries likely would be attracted to Praying Razanne, who comes complete with a long hijab and modest prayer gown.

Lest people think that she's all about praying, there's In-Out Razanne, whose wardrobe also includes a short, flowery dress she can wear inside the home, in view only of men in her family.

"Razanne represents to Muslim girls that they have options, goals and dreams and the ability to realize them," said Debryn.

Jenna, who recently donned the veil after much soul-searching, said Razanne makes her "feel more comfortable about being a Muslim girl."

___

Offline Tarmac

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Re: Muslim Barbie Dolls
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2003, 02:12:48 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by mrblack
This is getting silly!!
Are we still in America?


You're right!  There should be no Muslim dolls in America!  Religious freedom and capitalism do not apply to Muslims!

Offline mrblack

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Muslim Barbie Dolls
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2003, 02:17:59 AM »
Dam right !! tell that to the Jews:(

Offline WldThing

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Re: Muslim Barbie Dolls
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2003, 02:21:35 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by mrblack
This is getting silly!!
Are we still in America?


Whats so silly about it? Its a fricken doll.

Offline mrblack

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Muslim Barbie Dolls
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2003, 02:24:16 AM »
Nothing I quess just the erossion of the American culture.

Offline Duedel

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« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2003, 02:26:04 AM »
Jews? Muslims? Christians? Naughty religion.

Offline WldThing

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« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2003, 02:30:19 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by mrblack
Nothing I quess just the erossion of the American culture.


I can see the barbie doll causing the whole american culture to crumble..  Damn evil i say .. EVIL!

Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2003, 02:33:42 AM »
I wonder, is it an erosion of american culture because the people doing it are not white?  Or because they are not christians?

I'd just like some clarification so I can figure out what type of bigotry is being demonstrated.

Best regards,

Chairboy
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

Offline Fishu

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« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2003, 02:39:04 AM »
My god.. .hes a threat to ameriika, this is obviously an attempt to brainwash the ameriikan children to towards muslim belifs, like for example create belly dancers...

..hey wait..  :confused:   create belly dancers?  bring 'em, give it to 'em and let's enjoy in 10-20 years about it!

Offline FUNKED1

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« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2003, 02:47:06 AM »
Do they have the Ken doll with dynamite vest?
What about Skipper with the Honor Killing action set, complete stones and a tube of fake blood?

Offline Roscoroo

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« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2003, 02:48:09 AM »
You mean I cant Keep my "Genie" Barbie doll anymore ...?

Roscoroo ,
"Of course at Uncle Teds restaurant , you have the option to shoot them yourself"  Ted Nugent
(=Ghosts=Scenariroo's  Patch donation

Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2003, 02:54:19 AM »
Howdy Funked,

Is there an 'Abortion Doctor Killer' or 'Molester Priest' Ken out yet?
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

Offline mrblack

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« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2003, 03:01:36 AM »
You assume biggotry is going on here.
Simply stating that muslims are a violet religion
and are preaching hate in the mosk church whatever you call it.
They strap bombs on ther children to go blow themselves up fo alhla.
we are fighting a war agaist the terroist if we let them all move over here our streets will soon be coverd in the blood of americans.
Nothing like having you enemy in your back yard.
OUY boaders should be locked down by the military.
To keep the terroist out and the illegal drugs and the illegal workers.
Think about it this way we as a country cant take car of the people we have now.
So how in Gods name are we going to take care of all these new people coming in daily????
The melting pot is FULL.
We cant afford all of this we need to feed our kids we need to school our kids.
Our kids need medical care.
and I nice home with a mother and a father to love annd guide them .
so they will grow up to be somebody .
If not they will end up on crack living in the streets.
And there medical care when they do get it  Tax payers will be handling that as well.
so in closing we cant take care of what we have now ..
where will the jobs come from hell there all going over seas
they gettin all the dam jobs why they comin over here?
People look long and hrd at the Soup we are in.
Good old America Is Hurting She is in deep chit.
what do we need to do? and ideas?

Offline Tumor

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« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2003, 03:06:34 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by mrblack
You assume biggotry is going on here.
Simply stating that muslims are a violet religion
and are preaching hate in the mosk church whatever you call it.
They strap bombs on ther children to go blow themselves up fo alhla.
we are fighting a war agaist the terroist if we let them all move over here our streets will soon be coverd in the blood of americans.
Nothing like having you enemy in your back yard.
OUY boaders should be locked down by the military.
To keep the terroist out and the illegal drugs and the illegal workers.
Think about it this way we as a country cant take car of the people we have now.
So how in Gods name are we going to take care of all these new people coming in daily????
The melting pot is FULL.
We cant afford all of this we need to feed our kids we need to school our kids.
Our kids need medical care.
and I nice home with a mother and a father to love annd guide them .
so they will grow up to be somebody .
If not they will end up on crack living in the streets.
And there medical care when they do get it  Tax payers will be handling that as well.
so in closing we cant take care of what we have now ..
where will the jobs come from hell there all going over seas
they gettin all the dam jobs why they comin over here?
People look long and hrd at the Soup we are in.
Good old America Is Hurting She is in deep chit.
what do we need to do? and ideas?



First things first.... School really is a GOOD thing mrblack.  Paying attention while your there is even better.
"Dogfighting is useless"  :Erich Hartmann

Offline mrblack

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Muslim Barbie Dolls
« Reply #14 on: October 09, 2003, 03:15:21 AM »
Yeah So what School is where I learned to drink:eek: