Line sticker shock
Online reporters
Line Thailand, which operates the country’s most-popular mobile-messaging app, Thursday pulled three sets of “stickers” portraying images of Lord Buddha in “inappropriate” poses following online complaints.
Thousands of Thai Buddhists regarded the stickers — used to illustrate text messages in smartphone and desktop-computer software — as disrespectful because they portrayed the holy figure in funny, cartoon-like positions.
Led by a group called the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth, about 40 Buddhist organisations worldwide launched an international protest campaign on change.org to have the recently introduced "Buddha", "The Mask Revolution" and "Saint Young Men" sets removed. The "Stop Buddha Line Sticker" petition had garnered about 6,500 signatures as of Friday morning.
WFBY leader Pornchai Pinyapong said he was informed by Line Thailand's public relations department that the company had removed the contentious stickers from its Thailand "sticker shop". However the emoticons remain available for purchase and download elsewhere in the world.
A source at Line Thailand, who asked not to be named, told the Bangkok Post the decision to remove stickers is made by teams in each country.
Mr Pornchai said Line's stickers had never broached religious topics before, and he wondered why the company decided to launch Buddha stickers globally.
He called on all Buddhists living in other countries to launch a similar protest to have them banned worldwide.
Line sticker shock
Online reporters
Line Thailand, which operates the country’s most-popular mobile-messaging app, Thursday pulled three sets of “stickers” portraying images of Lord Buddha in “inappropriate” poses following online complaints.
Thousands of Thai Buddhists regarded the stickers — used to illustrate text messages in smartphone and desktop-computer software — as disrespectful because they portrayed the holy figure in funny, cartoon-like positions.
Led by a group called the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth, about 40 Buddhist organisations worldwide launched an international protest campaign on change.org to have the recently introduced "Buddha", "The Mask Revolution" and "Saint Young Men" sets removed. The "Stop Buddha Line Sticker" petition had garnered about 6,500 signatures as of Friday morning.
WFBY leader Pornchai Pinyapong said he was informed by Line Thailand's public relations department that the company had removed the contentious stickers from its Thailand "sticker shop". However the emoticons remain available for purchase and download elsewhere in the world.
A source at Line Thailand, who asked not to be named, told the Bangkok Post the decision to remove stickers is made by teams in each country.
Mr Pornchai said Line's stickers had never broached religious topics before, and he wondered why the company decided to launch Buddha stickers globally.
He called on all Buddhists living in other countries to launch a similar protest to have them banned worldwide.
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