STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, April 29, 2002: Swedish furniture maker Ikea has apologized for an advertisement showing a glittering toilet seat adorned with a meditating Buddha. The figure, incorrectly identified as the Hindu God Siva, appeared in a section with decoration tips in the latest issue of Ikea Family Magazine, sent to 700,000 households in Sweden. The article, headlined “Make the nicest toilet seat yourself,” features a picture of Buddha, with legs crossed and eyes closed, glued on a toilet seat spray-painted in gold. The adjoining text refers to the figure as Siva. Many of the estimated 10,000 Hindus in the Scandinavian country complained and representatives from Hindu groups sent a joint protest letter to the company on Tuesday. Ikea apologized the next day. Protest organizer Shahsi Sharma said he was satisfied with the apology and considered the issue resolved. He added that Ikea conducts a much-appreciated education program to combat the use of child labor in India. Ikea spokesman Tina Paulsson said the company would pay closer attention to pictures with religious and cultural motifs in the future. Two years ago a small business in Seattle attracted Hindu outrage by painting Hindu Deities on toilet seats.
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