ANTI-BARBIE GOES ON SALE

A doll in traditional Islamic dress has gone on sale to meet the needs of Muslim girls fed up with Barbie. Razanne is the exact opposite of her blonde rival, the all-American doll lampooned and admired in equal measure over the years for her curvaceous figure.

The new Islamic contender comes complete with long-sleeved dresses, traditional headdress, the hijab, and a more modest figure.

Creator Ammar Saadeh said the doll not only fills a marketing void but also offers Muslim girls someone to whom they can relate. He said: "The main message we try to put forward through the doll is that what matters is what's inside you, not how you look.

"It is a tool for young Muslim girls to learn the value of things like education and religious piety instead of focusing on their bodies as the most significant aspect of their lives." Razanne comes in three types - fair-skinned, blonde, olive-skinned with black hair and black skin with black hair.

In the pipeline are Dr Razanne and astronaut Razanne. Mr Saadeh's NoorArt Inc firm, based in Livonia, Michigan, also sells other toys geared towards Muslim children.

Last Updated: 23:00 UK, Monday October 13, 2003