Jordanian campaign underway to boycott of Danish, Dutch products

The campaign, entitled "The Messenger Unites Us," came into existence after a dozen Danish papers reprinted cartoons deemed blasphemous to the Prophet Mohammed in February.

The controversial pictures were originally printed by the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten in September 2005, sparking a spate of protests across the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Dutch products were recently added to a list of blacklisted Danish goods after Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders released a short anti-Islam film on the Internet in March.

Organizers of the campaign said they had decided to delay the launch to give ample time for local agents carrying Danish and Dutch products to sell stocks already imported.

"Following our initial launch, we scaled back our boycott efforts after receiving complaints from local traders. We gave traders enough time - until June 10 - to sell their stock after which the campaign will be in full force," campaign spokesman Zakaria al-Sheikh told DPA.

He pointed out that the campaign would include highway billboards, posters, printed T-shirts, bumper stickers and the like "to inform consumers not only to boycott foods but anything associated with Denmark and the Netherlands such as airlines and shipping agencies."

Campaign organizers also ...