German Tissues Insult Holy Images

July 12, 2003

A German company, Sniff Tissues Paper Products Design (PPD), is manufacturing novelty tissues bearing the images of Lord Sri Krishna and the Virgin Mary and distributing them worldwide. The manufacturers have refused to pull them from the shops because they believe they appeal to people for "fashion reasons."

The National Council of Hindu Temples complained to the company that the products were very unacceptable and offensive, and encouraged people to "blow their nose on holy images."

The German company replied that in their opinion these tissues are used as accessories and for fashion reasons and furthermore many young people, Christians as well as people from other religions, are interested in the Hindu belief and the tissue might support this interest. "We have a great response for these products. Young people really like it because Virgin Mary and Lord Krishna have become cult characters, not because they make fun of them. On the contrary they start to think about religious things again. So we attract attention but in a positive way."

Sniff tissues acknowledged that the products may have caused offense. "We'd like to express our apology if we hurt anybody's feelings, but because of the reasons above-mentioned we won't stop producing or selling these products."

The travel-size tissues were pulled from sale in the Victoria and Albert Museum gift shop recently after pressure from various Hindu organizations. Angered Hindus, however, have vowed to continue to campaign until the offending tissues are withdrawn from production.

All those who would like to protest against the manufacturing of these tissues please contact Sniff Tissues Paper Products Design (PPD), which is based in Germany. The details are as follows:

Paper Products Design (PPD)

PR Department Michael Neunfinger

Am Hamburg 4

53340 Meckenheim

Tel: 02225-9935-45

Fax: 02225-9935-35

E-Mail: m.neunfinger@paperproductsdesign.de

http://www.ppd.tv

Your servant,

Ravi Sihra