Display of 9/11-Themed Rug in California Sparks Backlash from Victims’ Families

The exhibition and sale of a rug depicting the September 11 attacks in the coastal city of Santa Barbara, California, has triggered a wave of reactions among the families of the victims. The rug, exhibited by an Afghan trader, portrays the collision of two airplanes with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

This piece is being sold at a shop called “Tribal Rugs & Art” for $450. Part of the rug also includes imagery related to the Afghanistan war, with the date “03-3-19” inscribed alongside.

According to the New York Post, several family members of the 9/11 victims have said that displaying such images can revive the painful memories and suffering of that tragic event. A fire department commissioner who was present during the events of that day emphasized that those who produce and purchase this rug should respect the victims of the tragedy.

In contrast, Masoud Azizi, the shop owner and an Afghan resident, defended the exhibition of the rug. He stated that the design does not glorify the 9/11 attacks but rather reflects a historic event. According to him, the rug was imported from Afghanistan and has also attracted the attention of some American citizens.