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Turkish Theologians Sue To Change Name of Fashion Designer's Company

By Howard M. Friedman

In Turkey, two liberal theologians have brought a lawsuit against the country's most famous Islamic clothes designer to force him to change the name of his company. London's Independent reports today on the lawsuit filed by Ilhami Guler and Suleyman Bayraktar against Mustafa Karaduman who has become known as "Allah's tailor". Karaduman's company "Tekbir" has become famous-- to the dismay of secularists-- for mass-marketing brightly colored headscarves and ankle-length coats that are widely worn by conservative urban women. However "Tekbir" refers to the Islamic credo ? "there is no God but God". The suit claims violation of a Turkish law that bans the commercial use of names, "imbued by society with a moral value". Plaintiff Guler said: "Jesus was upset by the sight of the money-lenders in the temple, and I'm upset by the thought of a new generation of Muslims for whom 'Tekbir' means expensive headscarves."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 05, 2008 (boomark / email).