“Hal & Al’s Seventy 72 Virgins” is the world’s first wine for anti-Islamic crusaders.
Released by an Australian think-tank and nonprofit group called the Q Society, “72 Virgins”‘s profits will be used to fund the group’s advocacy against Islamic influence and extremist ideology.
As first mentioned in the Australian newspaper Adelaide Advertiser:
A Barossa wine called Hal & Al’s 72 Virgins is being sold as a fundraiser for an anti-Islamic movement that is worried about a “culture war”.
The virgins are a reference to the rewards jihadis believe they will receive in Paradise once they kill others and themselves.
Profits from the “fine Australian sparkling wine” will go to the Q Society, which bills itself as “Australia’s Leading Islam-critical Movement”.
The Q Society warns that Islam is linked to discrimination and violence and run lectures teaching about “the true nature of this totalitarian theocratic ideology”.
(Barossa Valley is a leading winemaking region of Australia.)
Perhaps fearful of threats from Islamic militants, the Q Society will not reveal which exact vineyard estates grew the grapes used for Hal & Al’s 72 Virgins — it is a common practice for small wineries and private labels to buy grapes in bulk from vineyards to use in house blends. It is likely that the growers themselves did not know who would buy their grapes on the open market, so targeting them would be unfair anyway.
As the Q Society explains on their Website:
Islam is not just a religion. It is also a political, legal, financial, social and military doctrine which extends to all facets of Muslim life, the cultural and legal landscape of where Muslims live and how to treat non-Muslims. Islam makes it obligatory for observant Muslims to assist in extending the rule of Islam across the world.
For too long Islam has enjoyed immunity from necessary analysis, due criticism and debate because of its status as “just a religion.” Unfortunately, if we continue to tolerate Islam without understanding it, Australia as a free, secular democracy will be lost.
This approach for criticizing Islam is from the “classical liberal” position, which is embraced by those both on the political left (such as atheists like Bill Maher) and the right. The Q Society affirms in their “Australian Values” statement that they oppose Islam specifically because it conflicts with the liberal values and openminded ideology of modern Australian culture.
Although the marketing for Hal & Al’s 72 Virgins is tongue-in-cheek, the money goes to a very serious cause:
The label of the 2014 sparkling Brut reads: “Consumption of this Australian wine may prevent you from entering the Islamic Paradise. However, both the Jewish and Christian paradises remain open as alternative….”
“With our own special label … this is a guaranteed conversation starter and lighthearted take on an otherwise serious subject,” the advertisement reads.
“Satire and a good laugh are valuable weapons in this culture war.”
Even the name of the wine — “Hal & Al” — is a satire of “halal” foods.
Hal & Al’s 72 Virgins can be bought directly on the Q Society’s own shopping page.
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