Conservatives to Apple, Inc.: Stand Up for LGBT Community, Cease Operations in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria

If Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act is troubling, perhaps he should consider a few of the foreign locales where his own company does business. That is the request from several prominent conservative media figures in an open letter penned by Right Wing News blogger John Hawkins and Bruce Carroll, coauthor at GayPatriot.net. The letter calls on Apple to shut down its stores in Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran “until they stop their official government policies of jailing and murdering gays and lesbians.” The letter, via RightWingNews.com, reads as follows: 

Recently, Apple CEO Tim Cook said,

“Our message, to people around the country and around the world, is this: Apple is open. Open to everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love. Regardless of what the law might allow in Indiana or Arkansas, we will never tolerate discrimination.

. . . This is about how we treat each other as human beings. . . . Opposing discrimination takes courage. With the lives and dignity of so many people at stake, it’s time for all of us to be courageous.”

Tim Cook’s message seems rather ironic in light of the fact that Apple willingly does business with some of the most virulently anti-gay nations on the planet.

According to their Islamic-based governments, homosexuality is punishable by death in Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran.  So not only is it willing to “tolerate discrimination” in those countries, Apple is also happy to sell an iPod to the people who are murdering gays so they can listen to some cheery music when they’re done. What these nations are doing to their gay communities is despicable and should be condemned by every decent person. We hope Tim Cook believes that as well.

Tim Cook says that, “Opposing discrimination takes courage,” and we agree.  We call on Mr. Cook to live up to our shared principles by pulling Apple out of Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran until they stop their official government policies of jailing and murdering gays and lesbians.

Sincerely,

Bruce Carroll, Gay Patriot

John Hawkins, Right Wing News

Mike Adams, columnist and professor

Ali A. Akbar, Black Conservatives Fund

Jay Caruso, Pocket Full of Liberty

Ben Chapman, Chapman GOP

Steven Crowder, comedian, FOX News

Brandon Darby, Breitbart

Jeff Dunetz, Yid with Lid

Kristin Fecteau, The Campaign to Free America

Jack Furnari, Bizpac Review

Jim Hoft, The Gateway Pundit

Quin Hillyer, conservative columnist

John Hinderaker, PowerLine

Ben Howe, founder of Mister Smith Media

Tony Katz, talk radio host

Dana Loesch, Radio Host and The Blaze TV

Dr. Gina Loudon, Politichicks

Paul Mirengoff, PowerLine

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton, Noisy Room

Ann-Marie Murrell, Politichicks

Judson Phillips, founder of Tea Party Nation

Joshua Riddle, Young Conservatives

Tiffiny Ruegner, Right Wing News

Evan Sayet, comedian

Ben Shapiro, Truth Revolt

Kurt Schlichter, columnist