2006/02/08

Stocking up on Flags to Burn

From Reuters (via Andrew Sullivan):


When entrepreneur Ahmed Abu Dayya first heard that Danish caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad were being reprinted across Europe, he knew exactly what his customers in Gaza would want: flags to burn.

Abu Dayya ordered 100 hard-to-find Danish and Norwegian flags for his Gaza City shop and has been doing a swift trade.

...

It's not clear how many merchants apart from Abu Dayya are offering the flags, but they appear to be readily available. Angry Muslims set the flags ablaze or tear them to pieces.

...

"I knew there would be a demand for the flags because of the angry reaction of people over the offence to Prophet Mohammad," said Abu Dayya, whose PLO Flag Shop also sells souvenirs and presents.

He sells his Danish and Norwegian flags for $11 a piece -- a price he acknowledged might be dampening sales. Many protesters prefer to save money and make the flags themselves from scraps of fabric, he said.


You have to admire this guy's business sense.

5 comments:

Hesham said...

There always a profit to be made in any situation...

Anonymous said...

As a Christian,I find it offensive to see the burning of flags with the cross in them.

John B. Chilton said...

anon - Good point. But most Danes don't. I doubt they eat hot cross buns much anymore either.

Also, does this mean Hamas has opened up trade with Israel? I think I missed the memo on that one.

samuraisam said...

I told my dad about this over the phone and he couldn't stop laughing for like 5 minutes.

It's always good to have a lighter side during times like these

Anonymous said...

Hey John Chilton,
are you by any chance the chair of eco at AUS,, I am not sure of his first name but his family name is Chilton