This'll raise eyebrows: A Muslim website has apparently condemned the Apple retail store in 5th Avenue, NYC, as it looks like an important religious building in Mecca, and hence "constitutes a blatant insult to Islam."

Based on a report by Jason D. O'Grady, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has found an Islamic website, which apparently resents the strong resemblance of the Apple building to the Ka'ba in Mecca. The Ka'ba is deemed to be the holiest place in Islam.

The web site elaborated that the building was offensive because of three things: first, the Apple building is also called "Apple Mecca" (Apple retail store. In NYC, Manhattan. Go figure), second, because it is open 24 hours a day like the Ka'ba, and third, because it served alcoholic drinks.

While the first two accusations are spot-on, the third's pretty off - O'Grady mentions there was nary a drop of alcoholic beverages in the building, the only bars being the "Genius Bar", and the "iPod Bar". Case of wrong term affiliation, maybe?

We have yet to verify where this web site is, and hence the details regarding it, but the MEMRI group's role is in transmitting and translating news from the Middle East, so just keep alert for related news.