OMAN SWEPT BY DENMARK BOYCOTT FERVOR

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000133

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI, EUR/NB, AND EB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL MU DA
SUBJECT: OMAN SWEPT BY DENMARK BOYCOTT FERVOR


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SUMMARY
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1. (U) Prompted by the flap over cartoons in Denmark deemed
offensive to Islam, Omani consumers are boycotting Danish
products with increasing fervor, and grocers are taking note
by pulling suspected goods from shelves. Some companies have
taken out advertisements to remind consumers that they are
not Danish. While the Grand Mufti supports boycott calls,
the government is largely staying out of the fray. End
Summary.

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CALL TO BOYCOTT
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2. (U) While the Omani government remained silent regarding
the caricature of the prophet Mohammed published in a Danish
newspaper, local Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah"
provided a ready stage for heated and prolonged discussion
among participants, most calling for family, friends, and
fellow Muslims to boycott Danish products. Random mobile
phone text messages calling for the boycott of Danish
products are also proliferating.


3. (U) Shaykh Ahmad bin Hamad al-Khalili, Grand Mufti of
Oman, urged the Muslim community to unite against Western
attacks on Islam. He pronounced, "Whoever blasphemes against
any of the prophets maligns Islam if he is a Muslim. And if
he is a non-Muslim in treaty with Muslims, the treaty is
deemed terminated." Regarding Arab calls for boycott, the
Grand Mufti suggested even further action. "The trade
boycott is the least Muslims should do against the blasphemy
of the perpetrators to protect the sanctity of the religion,
sacred places, and the position of the Prophet." Various
imams also spoke to this issue during their prayer calls and
there is isolated talk of holding public demonstrations.

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IT WASN'T ME...
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4. (U) Omani grocers have responded to consumer anger by
pulling suspected Danish products from their shelves. Even
large international supermarkets, such as Lulu's (a division
of Abu Dhabi-based Emke Group),have removed Danish products
to show solidarity with (or avoid backlash from) consumers
who support the boycott. Furthermore, some clients of
Nawras, Oman's second largest wireless provider, have been
returning their telephones in protest of the company's Danish
connections (Denmark-based TDC is a minority stakeholder).
In response, some European companies, such as Swiss-based
Nestle, have posted front page advertisements in local papers
to address consumer misperceptions that they are Danish.

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GOVERNMENT MUM
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5. (SBU) Apart from the Grand Mufti (Oman's top religious
leader, appointed by the Sultan),the Omani government has
kept silent on the cartoon-boycott issue. As with anything
that complicates trade relations or stirs religious passions,
this is a phenomenon the government was clearly hoping would
blow over but seems, if anything, to still be gathering
steam. Of likely further discomfort is the fact that
Denmark's honorary consul in Oman is Anwar bin Ali Sultan -
the brother of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, and
head of one of Oman's oldest and biggest companies, WJ Towell.
BALTIMORE