Children around the world still long to play with toys, and in the Middle East, there is a new sensation – a doll like Barbie, called Fulla. But unlike that decadent western slut Barbie, Fulla is a good Muslim girl. She even comes with her own prayer mat to prove it! And it is PINK! She comes in a pink box already wearing a black abaya and headscarf. For the rest of her “fun and extensive” wardrobe, one must buy separately. According to a fun article from Arizona Central, originally from the NYT, Fullah is now the biggest selling girl’s doll in the Middle East. In Syria, Barbie has all but vanished from the toy stores.Invented in 2003 by NewBoy Design Studio, Fulla is so popular in countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Qatar that she advertises her own breakfast cereals, chewing gums and bicycles. Though there are no plans for her to have a boyfriend like Ken, there will soon be two additional dolls, a Dr Fulla and a Teacher Fulla. Fawaz Abidin, of NewBoy Design, explains Fulla’s appeal:
“Our advertising is full of positive messages about Fulla’s character. She’s honest, loving and caring, and she respects her father and mother.”
How sweet. Soon, I suspect, Lisa Simpson will be forgetting all about Malibu Stacey, and clutching a new hijab-wearing plastic muslimah.
32 responses so far ↓
kinziblogs // July 14, 2007 at 11:51 am
I just wonder how they are going to come up with a Muslimah Brat doll. Bratz are taking Barbie to the cleaners, and they are some mean lookin’, uh, witches.
Batir // July 14, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Children should be spared this stupid religious competition. More importantly, children girls should not wear hijad because tehy are children and should not be considered as sex objects . This is sick.
Rogee // July 14, 2007 at 5:48 pm
hahaha…people, do u have to raise kids to be religious freaks?
barbie who wears hijab….!!!!
respects her mother and father?
ok, WHAT?!?!?
Saned // July 15, 2007 at 1:17 am
Roger, I had to cut down a bit of your excitement…
The whole idea is ok if she had other clothes besides the hijab, but the article is just dripping with sarcasm and inappropriate comments…
Roger // July 15, 2007 at 4:20 am
Ya I got SO excited..
almost laughed my head off
secratea // July 16, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I get your point Saned, and I agree that religion shouldn’t be sold to kids in such a way..but why do some people become hostile towards the idea? If you don’t want Fulla, just do not perchase it for your daughter.
I did some research last year about Hijab banning in Tunisia and came across this hilarious piece of information. ” Just before the new academic year started in Tunisia (in 2006), security forces raided toy shops and confiscated the hijabi Barbie doll Fulla and all her photos claiming that the doll invokes sectarian feud.”
wow, how dangerous Fulla can be to hijab/Islam haters!
GrungeFreak // July 27, 2007 at 8:21 pm
its just that NewBoy Designers know how to advertise and how to use the culture for that.
its just money all about money and making a market for Barbie here in the Arab world.
According to a fun article from Arizona Central, originally from the NYT, Fullah is now the biggest selling girl’s doll in the Middle East!!!!! WTF now thats a Lie!!!!
popular in Jordan lol it isnt
Saned // July 28, 2007 at 11:03 pm
In the gulf, it’s pretty popular
Islamic Doll Overthrows Barbie at Ijtema // August 16, 2007 at 4:42 am
[...] Full text, click here. [...]
A // August 16, 2007 at 9:34 am
Barbie makers are just expanding their markets by catering to the needs of the middle east and other Islamic countries. Based on their culture and value system, an islamically dressed doll would attract parents to purchase it for their daughters.
I’d say great marketing idea. They are going to mint money with all the rich arab oil revenues there to tap.
rori // November 6, 2007 at 9:33 am
tros marron!!!!!
Costume Doll // November 22, 2007 at 8:12 am
Oh another Barbie with cultural heritage. I think they should make more of these showing the different culture of countries in Asia and Europe.
Kris
rofayda // November 23, 2007 at 4:17 pm
ok..i cant undertand whats tha broplim in this!!!!evry body had his religion evry one is free ..in our muslims socitey we must set up the religion in children from there infancy..this is my opinion & evry body isa free ..& this not sick BATIR..thxx(((rofayda))) from egypt
Kenza // November 23, 2007 at 8:52 pm
The fulla doll promotes modest clothing to young girls and the market thing i also agree with…i have one of my own
نورا مصطفى // November 30, 2007 at 1:25 am
احب لعبه فله
noufissa // December 1, 2007 at 6:37 am
je t’aime barbie and fulla
osman // April 29, 2008 at 9:42 pm
the west still don’t want to read about the past and Muslim accomplishments in it you take in your schools algebra which is clearly an Arabic word and you still think that the Quran is a book of stories like people and other religions books please read about it from a modest book and you will be spriest that all the legislation and laws in your countries is from him from this book even the way that western people thinks and scientific information that the human couldn’t new before 14 centuries. We don’t want your culture which is full of money and six.
maryam // May 3, 2008 at 3:12 pm
je t’aime fulla +barbie j e ‘ m ai mmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Ruhsara // June 4, 2008 at 8:09 am
Вперёд Fulla!!!!МашаАЛЛАХ что есть такие кто решил не развращать детские Умы уже с ранего детства!!!Я рада что многие Мусульманские девочки оценят это!!!!!!!
Aliyah // July 10, 2008 at 9:07 am
hahah….thats wicked!!! barbies a slut anyways!!! Fulla rock it gurl…..UR HOT!!! xxxx
bahaa elaiassi // August 8, 2008 at 1:51 pm
j’aime fulla et un peu barbie
samia // August 25, 2008 at 2:35 pm
SLT CAVA MOI SAMIA
samia // August 25, 2008 at 2:38 pm
JE TAIME FULLA EST BARBI ET MOSALSALE DE NOOR GUMUS
LOBNA // August 25, 2008 at 2:41 pm
merci wala chi 7ilo
waffa // November 11, 2008 at 5:10 am
what i got from these type of mails osama like from batir, rogee and roger i think they themselves are so lost from their reliegion i dont think so they even know what are their relegion is, iam sorry if iam using hard words, if they knew they would have respected others religion. but let me tell you guys one thing the issue of covering you may see the results clearly what effect is there in the english world and the Islamic world ..and that is obvious..
zineb // December 3, 2008 at 8:26 am
je taime fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaa et bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrbbbbbbbbiiiiiiiii merci
laila // December 3, 2008 at 8:30 am
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa et bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Murdina // January 31, 2009 at 11:51 am
I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, and if you dont like fulla, then just dont buy her. Everyone has freedom of speech.If you dont like a religon then dont say bad stuff about it, just ignore it. I like fulla , and its okay if you dont.
Hobbynana // March 10, 2009 at 9:33 am
You know this doll is from barbie, don’t you? It’s called Fulla and it is the rusult of the critics from the islam world to barbi, but they both are from Mattel
Fatima // March 21, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Children should be spared this stupid religious competition. More importantly, children girls should not wear hijad because tehy are children and should not be considered as sex objects . This is sick.
–
Okay, maybe you should get your facts straight and do some research because people who where hijab aren’t ’sex objects’. In fact, hijabs are for the complete opposite purpose.
Fatista // March 26, 2009 at 9:11 am
the boys gonna be interested in undressing them, which results in bearing perversion. if you open it up like you can undress barbie, child will see just the beauty, he or she doesnt look at it in the aspect of sex and pussy. so hes jus gonna take it ordinary.. no child has ever expected their girlfreind to look like barbie when grown up in this world?! ppl always are curious about hidden and prohibited things, even children.. thats why islamic countries have the biggest rate of sexual harrasment and perversion.
Aleykum Salam
lamiss // June 26, 2009 at 1:06 pm
fulla badi es2alki minchan alah hal anti ha9i9ya am estina3ya am lo3ba kayla3bo biha lbarahich