Shop selling offensive T-shirts referred to panel

Ras Al Khaimah: The Department of Economic Development recently referred a T-shirt with 'Allah' printed on it to the Fatwa Committee of the Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Department.

Inspectors from the Economic Development Department seized the T-shirts from a sports shop on Al Faisal Street here. The shop is located next to a gym where people buy the T-shirts as gymwear.

Scores of residents complained to the Department of Economic Development that such T-shirts should not be worn by people while exercising as the name of God will be subject to dirt and sweat and the people will go to the toilets wearing it.

Faisal Bin Fares, who heads the administrative affairs unit at the Department of Economic Development, said inspectors were instructed to check the complaint.

He added that the inspectors seized the offensive T-shirts and reported it to the top officials of the department. The inspectors were instructed to seize the T-shirts from the sports shop temporarily.

Bin Fares added that further legal measures will be taken against the shop according to the fatwa.

He said that no action will be taken against the shop till the official fatwa arrives.

'Heavy penalties'

Top officials at the Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Department told Gulf News the name of God should not have been printed on such T-shirts.

The officials stressed that the name of God cannot be printed on T-shirts that people wear to exercises. They added that wearing such T-shirts is against Islam.

The officials said the fatwa will be sent to the Department of Economic Development soon, instructing the inspectors to seize all the T-shirts with the name of God printed on it, and the shops which sell them should be heavily penalised.