Muhammed-krise koster arbejdspladser
Offentliggjort 27.02.08 kl. 15:00 - opdateret kl. 21:14
Arla må reducere produktionen og fyre medarbejdere som følge af faldende salg til Mellemøsten. Fortsat særdeles usikkert om situationen udarter til en regulær boykot.
Den fornyede strid om tegningerne af profeten Muhammed koster nu de første danske arbejdspladser. Arla reducerer produktionen på Bislev Mejeri med 25 pct. og fyrer 8 – 10 medarbejdere.
Netop Bislev Mejeri var den første danske arbejdsplads, der blev ramt, da Muhammed-krisen brød ud januar 2006 og på få dage udraderede Arlas milliardforretning i Mellemøsten.
Tøvende indstilling
Handelskrisen i 2006 blev udløst, da religiøse ledere i Mellemøsten opfordrede forbrugerne til at boykotte danske produkter for at protestere mod de omstridte tegninger, der blev bragt i Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten i 2005. Også denne gang er det opfordringer fra religiøse ledere, der får forbrugerne i Mellemøsten til at reagere.
Hermed synes lighedspunkterne i de to forløb imidlertid at være udtømte:
"Denne gang er kundernes indstilling tøvende og afventende. Man er usikker på, hvordan det hele udvikler sig, og nogle vælger derfor at udskyde bestilling af nye varer," fortæller Arlas kommunikationschef, Astrid Gade Nielsen.
Ikke reel boykot
I 2006 var der ingen tøven. På få dage blev Arlas varer fjernet fra hylderne i stort set hele Mellemøsten.
De aktuelle problemer har endnu ikke udartet til en reel boykot, men den generelle tøven hos kunderne har nået et omfang, der tvinger Arla til at reducere produktionen.
Mejeri ramt
Reduktionen rammer i første omgang Bislev Mejeri, hvor den ugentlige produktion skæres ned med 150 tons til 400 – 500 tons. Mejeriet fremstiller især feta og smøreoste til markederne i Mellemøsten.
Astrid Gade Nielsen oplyser dog, at den faldende ordreindgang ikke alene skyldes den fornyede strid om Muhammed-tegningerne.
"Vi hævede salgspriserne i Mellemøsten i januar. Det fik nogle kunder til at blive mere tilbageholdne og udsætte nye ordre. Denne tilbageholdenhed forstærkes af den aktuelle strid og medfører samlet set, at vi må reducere produktionen," siger Astrid Gade Nielsen.
Næsten normalt salg
Arla kunne for få uger siden meddele, at koncernens salg i Mellemøsten var næsten normaliseret efter det voldsomme tilbageslag i 2006. Også det langt mindre Sædager Andelsmejeri blev hårdt ramt i 2006, men har siden formået at genopbygge forretningen i Mellemøsten. Selskabets bestyrelsesformand Niels Bruun har de seneste dage været til fødevaremesse i Dubai.
"Vores kunder hernede er afventende, men vi har ikke oplevet faldende ordreindgang. Alle kender til sagen, og der skrives om den i de lokale aviser – men ikke på forsideplads," fortæller Niels Bruun.
Scan of the cartoons as printed on page 3 of the "KulturWeekend" section of ''Jyllands-Posten'''s September 30, 2005, edition. 

The country of Sudan has initiated an official boycott of Danish products, after the controversial Muhammad cartoons have been reprinted by a series of newspapers in Denmark and other European countries. Yesterday, President Omar al-Bashir expressed his concerns at a government-backed rally in the nation's capital, requesting that all Muslims in the world take a stand against Denmark by boycotting “businesses, institutions and individuals,” adding that “no Danes shall ever again be able to set foot in Sudan,” however, no Danish emergency workers in the country have yet been asked to leave.

The crisis, which appeared to have been averted two years ago after a near-omnipresent boycott of Danish goods in the Middle East and other Muslim countries, has re-surfaced after three men were apprehended earlier this month, charged with plotting to murder the cartoonist of what is considered the most offensive caricature, portraying the prophet Muhammad with a turban in the shape of a bomb on his head. Two of the men, both Tunisian citizens, have since been expelled from the country.

=== Considering dropping financial backing ===

Several Danish politicians have openly suggested dropping the development aid offered to Sudan. The Danish Minister of Development understands the concerns expressed by party associates and states that she cannot promise not to take action. The strongly-nationalist party, the Danish People's Party, has stated that any financial support to the country should cease immediately. Other politicians, especially members of the opposition social democratic party believe that removing the financial support to Sudan will only hurt the refugees in the Darfur and other poor regions of the country, rather than the government and people of the capital, Khartoum.

In addition, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Møller, has also stated, that Sudanese government might want to reconsider their methods, if they wish to become members of the World Trade Organization, which the nation has previously stated its interests in. The organisation does not permit consumer boycotts of other countries by its members.

Since the cartoons were published by 17 Danish newspapers earlier this month—along with a number of foreign ones—there have been demonstrations and attacks on Danish embassies and consulates in Pakistan, Jordan and Indonesia.

The Sudanese boycotts and demonstrations throughout the Muslim world have already claimed the first jobs at Arla, the main Danish provider of dairy products, who has seen itself forced to fire 8–10 employees due to lowered demand.