The Ka’ba in Mecca
Apple’s “Mecca Project” as pictured on the Islamic website
The real thing in New York
“Apple’s ‘Mecca Project’ Provokes Muslim Reaction,” from MEMRI, with thanks to all who sent this in:
On October 10, 2006, an Islamic website posted a message alerting Muslims to what it claims is a new insult to Islam. According to the message, the cube-shaped building which is being constructed in New York City, on Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets in midtown Manhattan, is clearly meant to provoke Muslims. The fact that the building resembles the Ka’ba (see picture below), is called “Apple Mecca,” is intended to be open 24 hours a day like the Ka’ba, and moreover, contains bars selling alcoholic beverages, constitutes a blatant insult to Islam. The message urges Muslims to spread this alert, in hope that “Muslims will be able to stop the project.”
The only problem is that the project is finished, and the actual building doesn’t look like the Ka’ba at all, unless all cube-shaped structures are forbidden to infidels. You can see it above and get more from MacDailyNews (thanks to Andreas).