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Daniel Pipes outlines some suspicious aspects of the case involving Azza Basarudin, the woman who bought a used Qur'an from Amazon.com and says she found it defaced. From FrontPage, with thanks to OBL r Us:
Comments: This incident, far quieter than the Newsweek flap, is in its own way no less instructive or important.(1) MPAC did not mention that the customer in question, Azza Basarudin, 30, is an Islamist affiliated at one time with the Islamic Institute of Human Rights, headed by Wissam Nasr. (Nasr now heads the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) office in New York.) For an example of her thinking, note above, how she presents 9/11 not as an occasion when Muslims violated Americans but when Americans violated Muslims. In other words, this is no average customer.
(2) MPAC also neglected to mention that Basarudin bought a used Koran, not a new one. Used books buyers do not normally expect vendors to clean their purchases of markings by former owners.
(3) Is it pure coincidence that this Koran episode is so perfectly times to follow the Newsweek and Guantánamo controversy? One can’t but wonder if Basarudin, like at least seven other U.S. Muslims, is faking her own persecution. Or if, like its colleague CAIR, MPAC stokes anti-Muslim hate even where it does not exist.
(4) If Muslims succeed in requiring that Korans undergo inspection for impurities before being sold, booksellers might well cease handling Korans.
(5) The idea that a Muslim has the right, without proof, to accuse a non-Muslim of blasphemy, as Basarudin and MPAC have done, brings to mind the notorious anti-blasphemy laws in force in Pakistan. There, as the World Council of Churches explained in 2000, those laws “have become a major tool in the hands of extremists to settle personal scores against members of the religious minorities particularly Christians.” In the United States, the blasphemy accusation serves as the basis for a Jesse Jackson-like corporate shakedown (note MPAC’s demand for Amazon to fund its programming).
(6) That Amazon suspended Bellwether from selling Korans via Amazon is a symbolic punishment rather than a substantive one, but it matters nonetheless. Can one imagine any other book’s defacement leading to such a penalty?
(7) This episode is yet another instance of Islamist organizations relentlessly seeking special privileges for Islam. At a time when American Catholics must endure “art” that consists of the crucifix in urine and a Virgin Mary made in part of elephant dung, why should American Muslims be indulged in their exquisite sensibilities?...
(8) Amazon should answer MPAC firmly in the negative, reinstituting Bellwether’s right to sell Korans at Amazon, making no public condemnations, and not giving money to MPAC. If you agree with this conclusion, let Patty Smith at Amazon (psmith@amazon.com) know your thoughts.
Read it all.
Posted by Robert at May 20, 2005 6:20 AM
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Too late.
http://www.mpac.org/home_article_display.aspx?ITEM=773
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at May 20, 2005 6:46 AM
In their zeal to shame the Bush administration,Newsweekdropped a gift that keeps on going into the hands of our enemies. This story, this allegation will continue to be used by our enemies FOREVER.
The stupidity of this news organization has caused irreparable harm. In order to prevent incidents of this kind, the U.S. Military and Government as well as "tolerant" Americans will continue on the road to dhimmitude. Now booksellers are being targeted, tarred with the same brush as the alleged Gitmo Koran desecraters. What allegations will come next?
Censorship is un-American. However, when mainstream journalists are aid the enemy in such an irresponsible manner in time of war, we are faced with a conundrum: one has to consider ways to balance the public safety issues with the public's right to know and American principles.
Posted by: epg at May 20, 2005 6:56 AM
A copy of my letter to Ms Smith at Amazon:
Ms Smith,
Your instant folding to a known Islamic activist is indeed sad. Did the timing of this incident ever cross your mind as an interesting coincidence?
You've been had and now they want to shake you down. You had better pay or CAIR will hound you with all the bad press they can muster. Take a look at the anti-CAIR web site and see just who these people really are. http://www.anti-cair-net.org/
Recently CAIR shook down DELL Corp because a few Muslim employees, in the middle of a work shift, rolled out their carpets and began to pray in the middle of a warehouse. Now DELL must provide "accommodation" for their prayers, pay several weeks back pay, and provide a public apology for their insensitivity. Soon Dell will provide a special room or area designated as a prayer area reserved for Muslims.
Oh, you've been had all right, and it's not over. They'll be back I assure you.
It's a good thing the Koran didn't have a fingertip in the package, isn't it?
How would Amazon respond to a defaced Bible? I would hope that you would instantly suspend all Bible sales through your supplier. Think it won't happen? Don't bank on it.
at May 20, 2005 7:20 AM
I have e-mailed Amazon and informed them that i will stop buying from them unless they stand up to this shameless blackmailing tactic.
psmith@amazon.com
Send her a message and let her how yoiu feel about it.
at May 20, 2005 1:12 PM
I'm sure the likes of Azza Basarudin would NEVER stoop to anything like the "finger in the Wendy's chili" gambit, would she.
Posted by: waterdragon52 at May 20, 2005 10:08 PM
As a bookseller myself on Amazon, I sent Ms. Smith an email of disgust at the company's instant capitulation to Muslim pressure. And said I would cease my association with this company if it continues to be so spineless and anti-First Amendment.
Who is to say that the Koran buyer didn't add the "Death to all Muslims!" note herself?
Fraud for money, sympathy and pressure is not unknown, as Wendy's recently learned when someone tried to give them the finger.
MPAC and CAIR are finding that there are plenty of dhimmi Condi Rice types out there eagerly and piteously waiting to lick their demanding Islamic boots.
Maybe Amazon should simply suspend the selling of Korans to Muslims to avoid any future offense to these global crybabies of Islam.
Posted by: BigSleep at May 20, 2005 10:46 PM
Gives an idea. Every time Hollywood stereotypes Evangelicals, I'll write and tell the offending company that I will cease consuming their products.
Posted by: Kepha at May 21, 2005 12:41 AM
NO to Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Extortion Attempt
Dear Patty Smith,
As an Amazon customer with an account, I am appalled by MPAC's attempt to force Amazon to beat its breast, declare its mea culpa, and do penance dictated by this advocate of its accuser.
I am of course referring to the alleged Koran desecration lodged by
one Azza Basarudin as detailed in the FrontPage Magazine article by Daniel Pipes at http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18139 with which I am sure you are familiar.
Specifically, I am disgusted by the three demands urged by MPAC on its followers with which to bombard you:
1. Publicly condemn such desecration of a sacred text with hateful speech targeting Muslims,
2. Terminate relations with Bellwether Books …,
3. Support and fund educational programs that foster religious tolerance.
Please do not fall for the customary Muslim ploy of playing the injured party and demanding reparations for an injury which could as lief been self-inflicted as not. Of course I do not support the desecration of any text revered as holy by any group of people. The penance demanded by this group, however, is in line with onslaughts by such organizations as MPAC and CAIR to force special considerations for members of one group is way out of line. These demands are part of a concerted effort to force guilt feelings on our society and extend special considerations to the adherents of one ideology.
Your apology to the customer of Bellwether should be sufficient. To " . . . loudly condemn such hateful rhetoric and take pro-active measures to enhance educational programs that foster religious tolerance,” as the MPAC head demanded, would be playing right into the hands of a nationwide drive by these organizations. Fostering religious tolerance is fine, but to educate the American public about the supposed "religion of peace and compassion" is to make one belief system "more equal" than all the others. If you agree to this, you would be foisting a falsehood on the public.
The termination of " . . . relations with Bellwether Books," is uncalled for, as there is no evidence of intentional insult on the part of this vendor. Your apology for the alleged infraction (not a crime) in conjunction with Bellwether's should be sufficient. It would be for any other group, except one engaged in promoting its political agenda cum an unashamed shakedown attempt. This is the third demand of the adherents of this ideology: "Support and fund educational programs that foster religious tolerance."
I fully agree with Dr. Pipes' point (8): for Amazon to " . . . answer MPAC firmly in the negative, reinstituting Bellwether’s right to sell Korans at Amazon, making no public condemnations, and not giving money to MPAC."
You might lose some customers that buy used Korans--though why they would do this when Korans can be obtained at no cost from mosques is beyond me, unless this injury that supposedly occurred hard on the heels of the alleged and retracted Guantanamo toilet incident was intended to compound the incitement of the latter. If you fold and fund "religious tolerance education" with special attention to Islam, there are many of us who would throw our hands up in disgust.
I do not intend this to be a threat, as I will not play the same game as MPAC and like outfits. There is a natural reaction, however, to commercial enterprises that bow to the demands of political pressure groups at odds with values of the society in which they operate. When shopping for a new computer, for example, Dell evokes a negative reaction on my part because of this corporation's acceding to demands by Muslims to take off from work several times a day to pray--down-time not allowed to other employees. The reaction is involuntary, but it does affect my buying decision.
With the hope that you will take the right course and resist any intimidation--especially one based on such flimsy evidence--I remain your faithful customer,
at May 21, 2005 5:07 AM
A copy of my letter to Ms Smith at Amazon:
I find it outrageous that you have fallen for Azza Basarudin's defaced Koran story.
I'll bet she also found a human finger in her Wendys' Chili. Basarudin's past history would have told you that the whole story smells as bad as week-old chili.
Why do we make such allowances for Muslems? If a Bible was defaced in the same way, we wouldn't give it a second thought.
Instead,you cave in to Muslim Public Affairs Council, and compound your cowardice by making a contribution to their organization, a shakedown that would make Jesse Jackson proud.
Shame on You!
at May 21, 2005 9:32 PM
Well, I've send them an e-mail letter and got an idiotic stock response. They don't even read it! This is the end of my purchases there.
My e-mail:
Subject: Koran
To: psmith@amazon.com
I've read about some marking in the Koran sold through Amazon its buyer claims caused her some hurt feelings. And because of those hurt feeling she demands moral and material compensation for. I am appalled to find that you spinelessly giving in to such a cheap extortion with political overtones. I do buy books from Amazon and through Amazon and I will seriously reconsider my book buying pattern in light of how this disgusting catering to an opportunistic noise-maker with an agenda will develop.
PS. I think the proper response should be: "We and our affiliates are able to sell used books at a substantial discount precisely because we cannot inspect such books for a non-obvious damage. We (or our affiliate) will gladly replace the book or return your money, and this, together with an apology for inconvenience, is your only compensation from us. For your claimed hurt feeling get a counseling. Have a nice day."
And now look at their reply:
subject: Your Amazon.com Inquiry
CC: order-update@amazon.com
Thank you very much for writing to us about this sensitive issue.
Amazon.com does not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and we share the distress and deep concern that the Muslim Public Affairs Council has expressed about the report concerning the used book purchased from one of our third-party merchants. As soon as we learned about the defaced product, Amazon.com immediately apologized to the customer and contacted the seller to investigate the incident and ensure they take
steps to prevent this from happening again.
The altered book was purchased in used condition from a third-party bookseller through Amazon’s Marketplace. As you may know, Amazon.com provides a platform where third-party sellers can offer new and used books for sale alongside new books offered by Amazon. Products purchased from a third-party seller are fulfilled directly by the
seller, not Amazon.com. In this case, the seller has listed its products on Amazon.com for over a year, and has received a 4.9 “star rating” (on a scale of 1 to 5) from thousands of Amazon customers.
In this case, the seller was not able to determine when the product was altered, and it appears likely the book was defaced before it ever reached the seller’s inventory. At our request, the seller is instituting more stringent quality control over its incoming stock.
Also, Amazon.com has suspended the seller from listing any copies of the Qur’an on our site for the indefinite future, though they are free to sell all other books.
As a bookseller, we believe that offering customers open access to written speech is one of the most important things we do. We place the utmost value on providing customers the ability to partake of any and all viewpoints and ideas freely, without scrutiny or judgment by others. We know firsthand that the ability to share ideas can foster greater understanding among and between people of all faiths and religions.
Thank you for your comments. It is always important for us to hear how customers react to all aspects of shopping at Amazon.com.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Department
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com
at May 23, 2005 9:00 PM
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