mediawatchwatch.org.uk

Just as it seemed that things were calming down on the Mohammed cartoon controversy, this week saw an upsurge in Muslim ‘toon rage.

Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia’s top cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, called for the Danish government to punish Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper that first published the cartoons of the prophet:

It should impose a penalty as a deterrent on those who took part in provoking this subject. That’s the least Muslims demand

he said.

In a move condemned by Reporters sans frontières the Jordanian parliament also called upon the Danish and Norwegian governments

to express their condemnation and disapproval of this hateful crime and to punish the perpetrators and instigators.

Finally, according to Jyllands-Posten, a text-message campaign in Saudi Arabia has led to a consumer boycott of Danish-based Arla Foods products. The company, one of the world’s largest producers of dairy products, fears that the boycott will spread. Partners of the company in Saudi summoned Arla representatives to meeting and, according to Finn Hansen, a department head

They have attempted to make us denounce the drawings. The situation is critical because the Saudi consumers react collectively. We’re afraid of being hit by a wave of consumer anger.

We wonder what they’d make of the latest Jesus and Mo cartoon?

(Hat tip to Gagwatch)

UPDATE: Now Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Denmark “for consultations in light of the Danish government’s lack of attention to insulting the Prophet Muhammad by its newspapers”. FFS.