Qatar authorities have ordered the removal of a 16-foot bronze statue of a soccer star because the pose — a famous headbutt — was deemed in poor taste and the subject matter in violation of Islamic law.
The statue of Zinedine Zidane captured the French soccer player headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi at the World Cup in 2006, BBC reported. It was erected at the Corniche in Doha weeks ago — but it didn’t take long for criticisms to swirl.
Religious conservatives said it promoted idolatry. Others thought is promoted violence. And still others just said the pose was in poor taste, BBC reported.
The Qatar Museum Authority purchased the statue, and soon after triggered a huge backlash on social media. One poster said, Agence France-Presse reported: “Congratulations for having new idols.”
AFP reported that Islamic law bans the owning of statues of human beings and animals, in order to keep at bay temptations to worship them. Some Muslim countries do have such statues, but Qatar is more conservative and traditionally adheres to the religious principle.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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