The mats sold were labelled as “frilled Greek carpets” and had pictures of the Kabaa on them. The Kabaa is a building in the center of Mecca, considered the most sacred place by Muslims around the world.

Shein was also accused of cultural appropriation for using white models to sell sleepwear that imitated cultural clothing. The retailer has now apologized via a statement to its more than 11m Instagram followers, and removed the items from its site.

“As a global brand, we vow to do a much better job in educating ourselves on different cultures, religions and traditions to ensure our diverse community is respected and honored,” it said. “We offer our sincerest apology to all whom we have hurt and offended and hope we can earn your forgiveness.”

Reviews on the products showed that customers were using the mats for purposes other than prayer – one review showed a buyer using the mat for their pet cat.

Source: BBC