Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi

DOHA: Islamic scholar Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi has stated that curbs imposed on Danish firm Arla will be withdrawn. The firm had been blacklisted by retailers in Qatar following the uproar over the publication of offensive cartoons against the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in a Danish newspaper.

Qaradawi made the announcement at an international Islamic conference being held in Bahrain. He praised Arla’s stand for stating that there was no need to publish such cartoons unnecessarily. Because of this stand, he said that curbs should be withdrawn and the company’s position would enable the opening of the avenues of dialogue for further such initiatives.

The company had announced its position in a 52-page insert in an Arabic-language magazine. Further, representatives of the firm also interacted with the Bahrain conference attendees and made their opposition to publication of such cartoons clear.

Products manufactured by Arla, are Lurpak, the leading brand of butter in the region and Dano milk powder among others. Following the controversy, people had gone as far as returning Danish products already purchased in bulk while others simply stopped purchases. Reading the writing on the wall, outlets also informed local distributors that they would no longer be picking up the Danish items.

Qaradawi had been at the forefront of protests against Danish products followingthe publication of the cartoons. Addressing a congregation in Doha on February 3, during Friday prayers, he urged people to boycott Danish goods. “Today is the day of anger, a day to express our fury on behalf of Allah and His Prophet (PBUH),” Qaradawi had said.

— the peninsula