Monday, Jan 23, 2006
Riyadh: A vigorous campaign has been kicked off in Saudi Arabia calling for boycott of Danish and Norwegian products in response to repeated publishing of offensive cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by some newspapers and magazines in those countries.
Both citizens and expatriates in the kingdom, with the support of Islamic scholars and some businessmen, are taking part in the popular campaign.
Some Saudi sources told Gulf News that they have plans to expand the campaign to other GCC States as well as Muslim countries in order to punish those who have insulted the Prophet and offended the feelings of Muslims.
Several Islamic organisations and societies worldwide have urged Muslims to boycott Danish goods, especially dairy products, as part of pressure tactics to stop the blasphemous attacks. They also urged shoppers to stop displaying Danish cheese in their shops.
The appeal to boycott the products was circulated recently in e-mails and mobile phone messages. A text message calling for the boycott of Danish products has been circulating throughout the kingdom for the past few days.
Text messages
"For the past three months, the Danish media has been making fun of our beloved Prophet, as such let our new slogan be 'We and what we own are at the disposal of Allah's Messenger'. Boycott their products and support our beloved Prophet," the message read.
On September 30 last year, Denmark's largest daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten published an article about freedom of speech and it was accompanied by 12 cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by various Danish illustrators. One of the illustrations shows the Prophet wearing a turban made of bombs.
On January 10 this year, a Norwegian evangelical newspaper Magazinet, reprinted the drawings in the name of defending freedom of expression.
For the last three months, the Danish media has been making fun of the Prophet by publishing several other offensive stories.
The boycott campaign has gained momentum in Riyadh and other cities in the kingdom recently with more Islamic organisations and prominent businessmen joining the issue.
Shaikh Abdul Rahman Al Omar, member of the Saudi Senior Scholars Commission, called on Muslims worldwide to join in protest.
Saudi Arabian business magnet Hassan Al Mahdi, owner and executive chairman of Al Mahdi Real Estate Holding Group, pledged endless funds at the disposal of the International Committee for Support of the Prophet to continue the campaign.
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
