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Pineapple named Mohammed sparks row at Freshers’ Fayre

By Linda Fort
October 10, 2012

A pineapple named Mohammed sparked a row at The University of Reading’s Freshers’ Fayre.

Students from the Atheist, Humanist and Secularist Society were asked to leave the fair for including the offending fruit on their stall. Muslims believe it is deeply insulting to depict the Prophet Mohammed.

According to organisation Student Rights, staff at the university and a number of Muslim students objected, saying “either the pineapple goes or you do”.

The pineapple was also labelled: “To celebrate the fact that we live in a country in which free speech is protected and where it is lawful to call a pineapple by whatever name one chooses.”

Student Rights said: “We feel that freedom of expression is not absolute and that the extremes of free speech should be limited to ensure that they do not become hate speech.

“However, students do not have the right to impose their religious sensibilities among others, and they must accept that they may be offended by those who do not share their convictions.”

James Fletcher, president of Reading University Students’ Union (RUSU), said: “Reading University Students’ Union is dedicated to promoting an environment in which all students feel welcome and included in all of our activities, while at the same time being committed to our members maintaining a culture of free speech.

"Our Equal Opportunities Policy and our Behavioural Policy (which all clubs and societies agree to be bound by), state that RUSU will create a culture based on the principles of fairness, respect and of valuing difference. The actions of the Atheist, Humanist and Secularist Society did not comply with these ideals and we took the action we felt necessary to maintain the culture that we exist to promote.”

RUSU and The University of Reading are independent of each other but work together on projects that benefit students.

Freshers’ Fayre on October 3 brought together RUSU sports clubs, societies and volunteer programmes to encourage people to join.

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Put Mohammed in the cellar Keep him there 'til half past ten Ties some bacon to his beard Let the rats out on him there

The above are lyrics from Poor Mohammed by Keith Reid and Gary Brooker from Procol Harum's Broken Barricades album, which was released in 1971. I don't think Brooker and Reid had problems concerning censorship in 1971, but we seem to have problems nowadays.

The album, Broken Barricades, was reissued by Salvo Records in 2009, and the track has never been removed.

What is in a name ?

THOMAS CASAGRANDA
14/10/2012 at 17:49

What worries me is the inconsistency of all this freedom of speech nonsense.

3 punks desecrate a Cathedral in Russia and are sentenced to 2 years in prison. Amnesty international are up in arms saying they have a right to freeedom of speech irrelevant of who they offend.

After the 2 police officers were murdered in Manchester a man was sent to prison for 4 months for wearing a t-shirt with an anti police slogan on it. Not a word from Amnesty international.

Somebody calls a pineapple mohammed and the RUSU go overboard to apologise. As much as i disagree with the action of the atheists,where is the right to freedom of speech.

In many of the bloggs on here there are comments ridiculing the name of Jesus but go unchallenged. They seem to have freedom of speech.

There is either freedom of speech or there is not. What is worrying is who is deciding and how. I believe it is no more than a skin deep political kneejerk to so called 'popular opinion'. The great failing of PC is not that it stops anything it just drives it underground. If you are racist you will still be racist but it will be covert and so more insidious.

parlovero, reading
13/10/2012 at 16:29

Are people more offended by the two drug dealers called Moham(m)ed or a pineapple ?

John Bull
13/10/2012 at 12:25

We've had our banter. The thin-skinned RUSU apologists (aren't you ashamed?) say they exist to promote a culture of "respect" and "valuing difference". To quote from the offended group's own website on the prophet: "They were ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of saving a nail of his, from hurt or injury". This is not a statement deserving of respect - still less something I would value. Anyone in the supine RUSU prepared to go to Jihad over a toenail...? It would appear that "all creatures are to you humiliated" (again from RUMS) and the disease is spreading.

Interested Party, Reading
12/10/2012 at 14:56

I see my quote was removed, not that I'm arsed you understand. But in the interests of clarity, I lifted the quote from Malcolm X's response to the 1962 crash of air France flight 007 which was;

"I would like to announce a very beautiful thing that has happened...I got a wire from God today...well, all right, somebody came and told me that he really had answered our prayers over in France. He dropped an airplane out of the sky with over 120 white people on it because the Muslims believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But thanks to God, or Jehovah, or Allah, we will continue to pray, and we hope that every day another plane falls out of the sky."

My comments were in relation to that quote and that quote alone, and not insinuation that mass genocide is carried out in the name Isl*m -which definitely does not happen.(I cannot state that clearly enough)

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
12/10/2012 at 13:37

There is no Pineapple.

Nimrod Maximus, in another Galaxy far far away....
12/10/2012 at 12:51

This whole notion of freedom of speech is quite frankly laughable. Yes we can say what we want, till someone's lawyers get told to sue or some group feels maligned in some way.

Even on the very forum, we can't express how we want to as some moderator will either cut the post to pieces of simply not post it.

If I want to call myself Buddha the bell pepper, surely that's my choice, but in reality, would make me look like a bell ***

The Racing Snake
12/10/2012 at 00:18

Personally I find many peoples beliefs offensive but I ignore them.

Having a pineapple named after a boss would be considered normal workplace humour in many places and would be tolerated.

NotJohn, Reading
11/10/2012 at 17:06

Obviously free speech doesn't apply in backward countries

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19906528

A 16-year-old Christian boy has been held on blasphemy charges in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

The boy, named by police as Ryan Stanten, is said to have forwarded a text message which allegedly contained offensive material on Tuesday.

The following day an angry crowd ransacked his family home, setting fire to their belongings on the street.

Pakistan's blasphemy laws have been criticised for their severity and for being open to abuse.

There has been renewed focus on the laws ever since a young Pakistani Christian girl was arrested in August on blasphemy charges after a mob accused her of burning the Koran.

Following an outcry over the case, Rimsha Masih, who is thought to be 14 years old but with a younger mental age, was released on bail - an extremely rare move in blasphemy cases.

Reports say the 16-year-old boy was taken to see local prayer leaders in Karachi after the message was sent on Tuesday.

Police say the boy told the leaders he had forwarded the message without reading it to others in the middle-class compound for employees of the local gas company where he lived.

His mother was employed by the gas company and reports say she has since been dismissed from her job.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97% of the population are Muslim. Critics say the laws are often used to settle personal vendettas.

In the past, accusations of blasphemy have led to vigilante killings by mobs.

Rights activists have long urged Pakistan to reform the laws, under which a person can be jailed for life or sentenced to death.

In March 2011 Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for minority affairs, was killed after calling for the repeal of the blasphemy law.

His death came just two months after the murder of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who also spoke out about the issue.

London Stan
11/10/2012 at 15:56

:o)

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
11/10/2012 at 14:05

May I just point out (in response to VP) that the vast majority of fruitarians are peace loving and non-violent. Do we not say "The spikes protect us only" (a passive stance)?. It was only the Truists (a small if vociferous minority) who started actually throwing them during the great split of 745AP and, furthermore, who then rejected the Great Canning Reformation (when, you may recall, sugar was added). We don't burn down houses now (well, only in a metaphorical sense during the festival of Upside Down Cake) and do not condone Truist extremist acts. As for the Del Montist Heretics don't get me started....

Interested Party, Reading
11/10/2012 at 13:54

@Interested Party, you are sorely mistaken, for MY pineapple is the one TRUE pineapple. I'm afraid I now have to burn your house to the ground and help myself to your pocessions. Not my rules you understand, it is the will of my pineapple.

Vestan Pance
11/10/2012 at 13:40

I am a PineApplist and understand that they named our sacred fruit "Jesus". This is an insult to our fruitarian beliefs. To associate the sweet flesh of our Lord ("Beneath the Spikes is the taste we likes": The Book of Ananas; Ch 3 V4) with a meat-eating, human sacrificial sect is nothing short of blasphemy. We call upon the Bromeliaceae (the Family of Pineapples under the Order Poales) to kick up a fuss. We also understand that the Pina (Pines be upon Him) was called "Mohammed" but that's OK boys, we#re quite relaxed on that one.....

Interested Party, Reading
11/10/2012 at 12:34

omerio, no disrespect but I think you misunderstand the meaning of FREEDOM OF SPEECH we have in this country. My friend who has a dog called 'god' and NO ONE has taken offense to that. It's only an insult if you're closed minded enough to see it as an insult. It could be intended as a compliment that someone wants to name an item of any kind after someone or something else not an insult....not likely but it is possible.

A Disgruntled Reading Resident, Reading
11/10/2012 at 11:47

Naughty Dangermouse - I let the air out of him with a pair of scissors..........

Tenacious, Tilehurst
11/10/2012 at 10:14

"Work Colleages once gave me a blow up doll as a secret santa present. I called it Paul after my boss very openly as it had the same colour hair. "

So how long have you been sleeping with your boss?

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
11/10/2012 at 07:51

I suppose it was only a matter of time before some tool pulled Isl*maphobia out of the crack in their *rse. And we were doing so well too.

Religon is the opiate of terrorists, paedophiles and d ickheads. Can anyone explain to me why Kenneth Copeland has a airport runway in his back garden. Well can they?

There are a few people who are going to be so screwed when Jesus finally does return and sees all the debt that's been racked up on his Amex card.

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
11/10/2012 at 07:50

Work Colleages once gave me a blow up doll as a secret santa present. I called it Paul after my boss very openly as it had the same colour hair.

I doubt he reads get reading but just in case "Hi Paul".

Tenacious, Tilehurst
11/10/2012 at 07:08

A few in the net !!!

John Bull
10/10/2012 at 23:34

I name this pineapple 'omerio'. God bless her and all who pray to her. I do this thrice, in homage to omerios's boss who liketh not the moniker an smithet omerio sorely.

For it is said, "whomsoever repeateth the same post thricely shall be curs'ed among Getreading contributors."

Here endeth the rambling. Peas be upon us all, and verily all manner of beans and pulses.

For is it not written,"Oh b*gger this, I'm off to bed."

N Tropy
10/10/2012 at 23:11

There is a difference between freedom of speech and freedom to insult and most of the time freedom to insult is packaged under the freedom of speech banner. Would you dare having a pineapple at work and give the name of your boss?, do you think he will be please and may be give you a promotion for being funny and freely expressing yourself?. No you wouldn't. Would you have a pineapple in an event where Jews are taking part and name it Moses?. No you wouldn't because you will be labelled anti Semitic. So let us be fair people and don't let Islamophobia & hate blind your hearts. There is freedom of speech and there is the sick jokes that no one likes

omerio
10/10/2012 at 21:55

There is a difference between freedom of speech and freedom to insult and most of the time freedom to insult is packaged under the freedom of speech banner. Would you dare having a pineapple at work and give the name of your boss, do you think he will give a promotion for being funny and freely expressing your speech. No you wouldn't, why work another example would you have a pineapple in an event where Jews are taking part and name it Moses. No you wouldn't. So let us be fair people and don't let Islam-phobia & hate blind your hearts

omerio
10/10/2012 at 21:52

There is a difference between freedom of speech and freedom to insult and most of the time freedom to insult is packaged under the freedom of speech banner. Would you dare having a pineapple at work and give the name of your boss, do you think he will give a promotion for being funny and freely expressing your speech. No you wouldn't, why work another example would you have a pineapple in an event where Jews are taking part and name it Moses. No you wouldn't. So let us be fair people and don't let Islam-phobia & hate blind your hearts

omerio
10/10/2012 at 21:52

Offence, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

I am offended by many of the tenets of Islam, but I don't riot and burn things! And if they want to call me an infidel, and regard me as a lower form of life, that is their problem, not mine. I turn the other cheek.

AndyMan, Reading
10/10/2012 at 21:24

Damn you auto-correct. *their

Dog Leg
10/10/2012 at 18:54

I can't believe people waste they're lives believing in all of this.

Dog Leg
10/10/2012 at 18:53

Hi John Bull, I take it you believe in a god? I hereby mock you, simpleton.

The catholic church hierarchy (a bunch of particularly mad, bad and downright sad individuals) abandoned limbo in 2007, but not so far mumbo and jumbo.

The modern history of christian religions particularly, is one of constant retrenchment as the most idiotic ideas become eroded by knowledge. At least the tooth fairy gives you money, and santa give you presents.

N Tropy
10/10/2012 at 18:25

I'm suprised nobody at Reading college has been killed and the place burned to the ground over this. Not that it would be an over reaction or anything....

Thank god nobody drew a cartoon!

Hugh J, Reading
10/10/2012 at 17:28

Hello Jon, nice of you to join us. I certainly do not think I am morally superior to many religious people.

I do think I am morally superior to some, like Mitt Romney or Sarah Palin for example, who claim to support 'the right to life' whilst at the same time supproting capital punishment and I am certainly morally superior to their deities.

I can prove that simply by stating that if it had been me I would have forgiven adam and eve, given them forgiveness and let them stay in the garden. I also would not have inundated the world with a (mythical) global innudation because a few people were being naughty. I wouldn't have destroyed 2 cities because the inhabitants enjoyed a bit of sexual experimentation and I certainly would not have sent 2 she bears to rip 42 children to pieces just because they called someone baldy. None of those actions I would describe as especially moral, would you?

And I don't mock a non existant deity, I do criticise the creduilty of the believers however.

whitespirit
10/10/2012 at 17:14

Bahumbug, a point here. Islam is not a race, it is a religion. Imo we should stop refering to islamaphobia as racism.

Religion is something that the creduilous can chose to believe or not. Race is not something that can be chosen. I was born caucasian and will die caucasian. In between I can chose to believe in relgion or not.

whitespirit
10/10/2012 at 17:09

Atheists like whitespirit below think they are morally superior to those that have a religion, yet they mock something they don't believe exists. How moronic is that ?

John Bull
10/10/2012 at 17:08

Strange that calling a pineapple mohamed causes such uproar when you consider that most muslims are called muhamed. who is to say it was not named after muhamed Bloggs or Jones.

However it seems a strange religion that has more respect for its prophet than for its God. Richard Dawkins (That great master of knowlege of all things) wrote a book called "The God delusion". By inference this is a clear statement that God is a delusion therefore all his followers must be so. It therefore follows that Dawkins considers Mohamed to be deluded but that's OK.

Before you start writing that The Muslim God is Allah. Christians, Jews and Muslims are all the sons of Father Abraham (It even says so in the Koran) and his one God.

parlovero, reading
10/10/2012 at 17:06

Point taken tony but and here is the but this country is not or should never be a islamic country. Second point here and most immportant and relevant to this piece this is a free speaking and democratic country. Or rather that is what the population of this country fought for in two world wars and countless mini wars since. Anybody objecting to those 2 points should have serious doubts as to why they are still living in a western democratic country. One small point though I do not agree with calling a pineapple mohammed as it was not really named to highlight religeon but a thinly veiled racist ploy. Plus calling the thing by any name remotley connected is offencive to believers of any faith, who are atheist to mock any believer. Freedom of speech works both ways as does censure.

bahumbug, Reading
10/10/2012 at 17:01

This is so last week's story.

And it fails to mention that the pineapple was returned to the offending student group, after which it was rechristened Jesus.

Jenny Tailyer
10/10/2012 at 16:30

This has demonstrated we don't have the freedom to call a pineapple by whatever name one chooses even though it is lawful to do so.

NotJohn, Reading
10/10/2012 at 16:27

Tony, you don't have to read comments by me anyway. You can always run of back to your cottage and talk to your friends there.

Problem solved as I assure you that whichever cottage you frequent I have not written any comments in it. Or any other toilet for that matter.

whitespirit
10/10/2012 at 16:16

Or this message board.

Dong-Ding, 3rd world slum
10/10/2012 at 15:55

Wouldn't be many pubs either, Jason !

I Ron
10/10/2012 at 15:45

I am absolutely disgusted at the anti-Islamic comments being posted below/above. There is nothing wrong with following Islam. Just think; if the UK an Islamic state we wouldn't have to read comments by Whitespirit or his kind. Every cloud eh?

Toilet Tony
10/10/2012 at 15:39

However - secular atheist societies can be equally oppressive e.g. China in the cultural revolution.

Snowdrop, Twyford
10/10/2012 at 15:26

whitespirit,

I have the same opinions as you regarding freedom of speech and religion being incapable of existing hand in hand.

Dong-Ding, 3rd world slum
10/10/2012 at 15:21

Do you live near xchurch Road, whitespirit ?

Damn you to hell, infidel.

Mark Miwurdz
10/10/2012 at 15:10

Ding-dong. xianity doesn't tolerate freedom of speech if they get a chance either. It is nothing to do with islam or xianity, it is to do with the deluded ones wanting their particular special kind of fantasy man to have special protection.

High time they got over their medieval myths and began to live in the age of rationalism all round.

whitespirit
10/10/2012 at 14:33

Dunno m8. When are Pineapples in season?

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
10/10/2012 at 14:33

Does this mean there will be an Arab Autumn uprising in Reading or will they wait until Spring?

love buddha, Berkshire
10/10/2012 at 14:29

Slanted Saltpot,

"I'm all for healthy debate. In fact I'm all for healthy debate about the frictions between islam and western culture but doing things like calling a pineapple mohammed is just baiting people and doesn't add to the debate."

I disagree. We have freedom of speech which Islam generally doesn't tolerate. As such, these students were perfectly entitled to call their pineapple whatever they wanted and it has shown how intolerant some Muslims are towards freedom of speech in this country. The same Muslims who complained about this might well have encouraged the burning of poppies on Rememberance Day for all we know.

Dong-Ding, 3rd world slum
10/10/2012 at 14:05

Damn, that is what I was going to call my pumpkin at the end of the month!

bigking, The Moon
10/10/2012 at 12:59

@Dangermouse - well said and an informative link

Hobogeddon, Reading
10/10/2012 at 12:56

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INll6Y5iqbM

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
10/10/2012 at 12:54

"Yet again I've found myself looking at the comments on this website and and being concerned by some people's lack of tolerance."

What's the view like up there on Pious hill?

Is it lack of tolerance or merely tolerance fatigue?

Constantly being asked to tolerate the indoctrinated sensitivities of something that itself refuses to tolerate anything or anyone else.

Free speech is the cornerstone of democracy. Just because something you say offends someone - even if the offence caused is wholly deliberate. it doesn't negate your right to say it. People do not have a right not to be offended. In this case, the pineapple was named to give a public demonstration as to just how ridiculously easy offence can be actually be caused. Job done, well done all of you.

Of course if all someone is setting out to do is repeatedly cause offence, all it would do is raise questions as to whether that person had anything to say that was worth listening to. But that is the choice of the person whose attention you are trying to get, and not something for someone to censor under the counterfeit guise of 'civility'.

Would you say it was civil to live in a society where women hold a lower social status than a donkey?

Or a pineapple for that matter.