RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Denmark Thursday to protest a published series of caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, which provoked a wave of anger in Islamic countries when they were published last year in a leading Danish newspaper.
Ambassador Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Hejailan has been posted in Denmark since March 2003. Embassy officials did not answer phone calls Thursday afternoon.
The 12 drawings published Sept. 30 by the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten included one showing Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse. Another portrayed him with a bushy gray beard and holding a sword, his eyes covered by a black rectangle. A third pictured a middle-aged prophet standing in the desert with a walking stick in front of a donkey and a sunset.
Islamic tradition bars any depiction of the prophet, even respectful ones, out of concern that such images could lead to idolatry.
The anger over the drawings was evident throughout the Saudi capital on Thursday. Outside malls in downtown Riyadh, huge signs read: “Dear brothers, you should hold out purchasing any Danish food stuff because the Danes desecrated our prophet.”
A flurry of text messages was sent via mobile phones, urging a boycott of Danish goods, such as cheese and cosmetics.
“We call on the merchant brothers to stop importing all Danish products for the sake of our beloved prophet,” read one message.
A convoy of young men drove down one street with white cloth banners streaming from their windows.
“We demand all the brothers stop buying Danish products!” one read. “Remove all Danish products from your markets,” another urged.
Danish-based Arla Foods, Europe’s largest dairy group, said Thursday it had noted sales dropping in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is one of Arla’s largest markets outside Europe. The dairy group produces cheese, milk and butter at a subsidiary in Riyadh.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
