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Protests Over Muhammad Cartoon Grow

The Associated Press: The controversy over Danish caricatures of Prophet Muhammad escalated Monday as gunmen seized an EU office in Gaza and Muslims appealed for a trade boycott of Danish products. Denmark called for its citizens in the Middle East to exercise vigilance.

Denmark-based Arla Foods, which has been the target of a widespread boycott in the Middle East, reported that two of its employees in Saudi Arabia were beaten by angry customers. Aid groups, meanwhile, pulled workers out of Gaza, citing the threat of hostilities. ...

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen briefed European Union colleagues about the matter Monday. He has repeatedly rejected calls to intervene.

But Arla Food's executive director urged the Danish government to take action.

"Freedom of expression is an internal Danish issue but this has a totally different dimension," Peder Tuborgh said. "This is about Denmark having offended millions of Muslims." ...

Arabs and Muslims also are calling for a boycott of Danish foods, including popular cream cheese, butter and cookie brands. Arla said the boycott of its products in the Middle East was almost total.

"Sales have come to a standstill in almost all markets," said Jens Refslund, the foods production division manager.

Arla Foods has $430 million in annual sales in the Middle East and about 1,000 employees in the region.

If you've ever been to the Mideast, you'll realize how upset people must be to give up their Danish cookies.

It's amazing that the boycott--of which I've heard nothing, outside of this article--has been so effective. Even if it is totally misguided--surely the traditional Islamic prohibition on idolatory doesn't apply to non-Muslims in non-Muslim countries; else Anheuser Busch should watch out.

It's interesting how Arab nations seem to view the boycott as one of their favorite weapons--their boycott of Israel has been going on for over 60 years. Probably something to do with their still-centralized economies, which makes a boycott easier to call.

It's a tricky situation for the Danes... maybe they should try to compensate by opening a new market in China. Now if each Chinese bought just 1 cookie....

Photo of Arla's corporate symbol by Jacken via Jacken's Blog.

Update: The Times published an article on February 2 about the cartoons with this information: An international dispute over European newspaper cartoons deemed blasphemous by some Muslims gained momentum on Thursday when gunmen threatened the European Union offices in Gaza and more European papers pointedly published the drawings as an affirmation of freedom of speech.