Court allows Sarkozy 'voodoo' doll

PARIS, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The makers of a Nicolas Sarkozy voodoo doll Friday received appellate court approval to sell the figurine of the French leader.

The judges ordered the dolls be sold with a bright-red banner on the packaging alerting buyers of the "Judicial Injunction" and warning that sticking needles into the doll affronts the French president's dignity, the International Herald Tribune reported.

The doll comes with a set of 12 needles and directions telling how to put a curse on Sarkozy. It also includes some of his best-known quotes and gaffes, such as his campaign slogan "Work more to earn more" and "Get lost, you poor jerk," a comment he once leveled at a bystander who refused to shake his hand.

The distributor of the dolls, K&B Editions, was ordered to attach the following statement on each package: "It was ruled that the encouragement of the reader to poke the doll that comes with the needles in the kit, an activity whose subtext is physical harm, even if it is symbolic, constitutes an attack on the dignity of the person of Mr. Sarkozy."

Sarkozy was awarded a symbolic euro in damages, while K&B Editions is to pay about $2,000 in legal costs.

K&B Editions said 20,000 Sarkozy dolls went on sale Oct. 9 and sold out before the end of the month. Another 20,000 are to be delivered by mid-December.