Status: Undetermined
A news service called AKI (Adnkronos International) is reporting that
Iran has decided to rename Danish pastries "Mohammedan" pastries. It notes that "The name change recalls when some Americans started calling French fries, 'Freedom fries' to protest France's opposition to the United States-led invasion of Iraq."
I wouldn't put it past the Iranian government to do this, but what I'm not sure about is whether Danish pastries are actually referred to as Danish pastries in Farsi. Perhaps they use the English term. Also, it seems odd that AFI is the only news source reporting this. A search on lexis-nexis and Google news pulls up nothing else. However, the London Evening Standard is reporting that "Danish pastries and butter were being cleared off supermarket shelves in Saudi Arabia." So if people are willing to clear Danish pastries from supermarkets, why not rename them also? I'm leaning towards believing it's true.
Comments
It's why we have frakfurters that are also hot dogs, and hamburgers that are also Salisbury steaks..
I'm reminded of the lovely Afghani place here in town, that became Indian on Sept 12th...
All the same, I am a bit dubious about this article. Maybe they heard some Iranian guy joking about doing this, or else got mixed up with Iran banning Danish-made products such as pastries.
As harmonyfb says, most Muslims consider the term "Mohammedan" offensive to their religion. In fact, it's an offense roughly analogous to publishing pictures of the Prophet Mohammed-- which, of course, is what has a lot of Muslims angry at Denmark in the first place. So it would be highly ironic if "Iran" (or anybody else) retaliated against an insult to Islam by insulting Islam again.
A friend of my now says, "Excuse my freedom." instead of "excuse my French"...as a joke of course, but I thought it was a much better use than "freedom fries".
It's a stupid thing all around. Jyllandsposten print those cartoons as a provocation, then they act surprised when, surprise, people get provoked. What did they expect?
As for the 'cartoon controversy', regardless of whether this is a freedom of speech issue or not, shari'a law and the hadith are binding only on the followers of Islam, and even then it depends your particular brand of Islam. Some scholars contend that all images of anything are 'haram', some say that images of the prophet are permissible if not used as part of worship or ritual (idolatry).
For example, if you had a friend who named their child David, BECAUSE of you...and then decided they hated you and changed their child's name to Jehosephet...it wouldn't mean they still liked you...regardless of what they rename the thing...it's not a compliment to YOU.
If it were not for France, the American Revolution may have had an entirely different outcome, I have always realized this and give France the respect due them. Spain as well for that matter. Granted, it was probably more of a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" situation but regardless, France deserves gratitude for their monetary and military support during that crucial period of American history.
Boycott danish goods, fine, it hurts the government who is to blame. Demonstrate to show our government what you think, it ups the pressure and should the danish rightwing government fall I for one will cheer, but don't blame all Danes, we are many who respect Islam. For that matter I have friends, as danish as I am, who are Muslims, they say that they feel that they have been kicked twice, once when the cartoons was published and a second time when they saw the danish flag burned by fellow Muslims.
Maybe you might be able to get some sort of inert-gas-packaged version of a Danish pastry aimed at Western expats in some Iranian supermarkets, but it would be such a niche product most Iranians would never have heard of it.