Boycott Danish goods: Qaradawi

Boycott Danish goods: Qaradawi

CAIRO : One of the world's most prominent Sunni religious scholars called on Muslims on Friday to boycott Danish products in response to the decision by several newspapers in Denmark to reprint a controversial cartoon of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The cartoon was one of 12 caricatures that sparked protests across the Islamic world when they were first published in 2006 and led many Muslims to avoid Danish goods.

Sheikh Youssef Al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian cleric based in Qatar , urged Muslims on Friday to repeat their boycott, warning them that the world would view them as weak if they didn't react strongly. "Regrettably, Muslims start potently with these issues, then they relax gradually as the strong (supporters) get weaker and the enthusiastic (supporters) get lazy," said Al-Qaradawi during a press conference aired by Al-Jazeera television.

Islamic law opposes any depiction of the Prophet (PBUH), even favorable ones, for fear it could lead to idolatry. "Our duty is to go on (with the boycott)," said Al-Qaradawi. Danish exports to Muslim countries fell by more than 11 percent in 2006 during the boycott, according to Denmark 's national statistics agency. The boycott was accompanied by angry protests, with mobs burning the Danish flag and attacking the country's diplomatic missions in Syria , Iran and Lebanon .

The outcry across the Islamic world has not been as strong in response to the reprinted cartoon, but Muslims in Iraq and Indonesia held protests this week and Egypt banned four foreign newspapers for running the caricature. More than a dozen Danish newspapers reproduced the drawing on Feb 13 to show their commitment to free speech after police foiled an alleged plot to kill the cartoonist who created it. – AP


http://www.kuwaitti mes.net/read_ news.php? newsid=MTE5ODk3N DY2