Katy Perry can count fewer Muslims among her fan base after the release of the video for her new single, “Dark Horse.”

Either someone in the wardrobe department was asleep at the wheel, or a potentially provocative choice was made in accessorizing one of the male extras who plays a dissed, and ultimately disintegrated, suitor to Perry’s Egyptian queen. Around his neck is an amulet featuring the word Allah in Arabic.

This all sounds like yet another reason to avoid Katy Perry-branded entertainment products, but to some Muslims, the offense extends far beyond considerations of taste and into the realm of desecration. As the BBC reported Wednesday, an online petition was started in England by one Shazad Iqbal, who offered his critique of “Dark Horse”:

“Blasphemy is clearly conveyed in the video, since Katy Perry (who appears to be representing an opposition of God) engulfs the believer and the word God in flames.”

He added: “Using the name of God in an irrelevant and distasteful manner would be considered inappropriate by any religion.

“My only request is to all artists in the music industry: You have wealth, fame and success – please do not use the foundations of other religions in a mockery to carry out your fame.”

At press time, Iqbal had garnered 65,262 signatures on his change.org petition.

–Posted by Kasia Anderson