A Bahrain Boycott on Sectarian Lines

May 02

Episode

A Bahrain Boycott on Sectarian Lines

Some in Bahrain are targeting one of the country's biggest corporations for its alleged ties to pro-democracy protesters.

View the story "A Bahrain Boycott on Sectarian Lines" on StorifyA Bahrain Boycott on Sectarian LinesSome in Bahrain are targeting one of the country's biggest corporations for its alleged ties to pro-democracy protesters. Storified by The Stream · Wed, Oct 26 2011 21:59:36

Some online claim the Jawad Business Group is bankrolling anti-government demonstrators. Many have started petitions urging Bahrainis to boycott products the Jawad Group represents and distributes.

Yfrog - photo - Uploaded by LavenderDesingsyfrog.comThe Petition To the Following Brand namesipetitions.comSignatures #1 through #100 for the Boycott Jawad Business Group petition petitionspot.comPeople are pointing to -- what they say -- are specific examples of how the Jawad Business Group apparently helped the protesters.If you went to the Jawads outlets you would never have seen these protestor queing up to buy their groceries or other things, however he now ignores the very people who helped his Companies to grow, while helping his kind, who never bought anything from him. Be grateful, grow up and see which side of your bread is buttered Mr. Jawad.facebook.comWe Are Bahrain It has been confirmed from sources that during interrogation with the terrorists they admitted the following. 1: Direct & indirect financial support from Al-Aali, Jawad, Al Qasser families. 2: Receiving direct orders from anonymous leaders that receive orders from foreign parties. 3: Bribing foreign media personal and increasing sympathy through preplanned orchestrated events. 4: Using children as media weapons.facebook.comAccusations that Jawad Business Group, the local franchisee of the above brands, spread about them supporting terrorist societies financially and a boycott has already started against the group and hence all the brand names franchised by the group. We will not continue to buy from brand names we suspect supporting terrorism and the downfall of our government. We are unaware of any denials made by Jawad Business Group up to this date.ipetitions.comThe boycott movement gathered momentum after a letter sent by Faisal Jawad, the Shia owner of the corporation, to a Bahraini English-language daily, where he accused the newspaper of supporting the Sunni government.The media in the Middle East is to protect rulers and corrupt governments and not to say the truth and expose unlimited ill-gotten wealth.gulf-daily-news.comThat has fuelled a storm of comments against him and his company.I suspect you are one with more than just one home, a flourishing business empire and a yearly income way above BD1 million, so why would you be pushing such a leftwing, radical, anti-government agenda?gulf-daily-news.comJawad group shame on you and we promise to protect our loyal consumer from your dirty business against innocent citizens #bahrainmatot7373Nawal Yousif Naser.. Protest @ the Pearl has disrupted and yes, caused 'inconvenience' in my daily life and to so many others. What planet are you on? Let me make it simple for you: Who feeds the Pearl protesters? Faisal Jawad. Are we going to spend our ...dinars at Jawad's to contribute in filling his coffers more? No. Period. Simple enough?facebook.com

Bahrain is bitterly divided after weeks of protests by members of the Shia majority demanding greater freedoms and democracy. But that is opposed by the minority Sunnis who support the Sunni King, Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. So can these calls for boycott affect the Jawad Business Group's bottom-line? Some say it is beginning to work:

I just received a msg from #Jawad / The Center Nuwaidrat thy hav a CLEARANCE SALE... just imagine!! its seems that thy r closing ;) #BahrainfatemaalqattanAlso, Jawad for instance depends on local suppliers to get some of its goods, hence the boycott may affect other businesses #bahrainYusuf_bumataiaWaitrose issued a full-page ad clarifying who the owner is. Looks like boycotts have really taken a toll on businesses #BahrainAbdullatifBHMany franchised companies run by the Jawad Business Group are also being targeted and could lose customers.Faisal Jawad has more than 370 different CRs of major branded stores. He must be one of the wealthiest Bahrainis. من أين لك هذا؟؟؟ahmedaliebrahimAlso, Jawad for instance depends on local suppliers to get some of its goods, hence the boycott may affect other businesses #bahrainYusuf_bumataiaAccusations that Jawad Business Group, the local franchisee of the above brands, spread about them supporting terrorist societies financially and a boycott has already started against the group and hence all the brand names franchised by the group. We will not continue to buy from brand names we suspect supporting terrorism and the downfall of our government. We are unaware of any denials made by Jawad Business Group up to this date.ipetitions.comWe the undersigned will never buy again from your brand names as long as you continue to do business with Jawad Business Group. Once you condemn this support and break your business ties with Jawad Business Group ,we will go back to buying your brands.ipetitions.comThis is a very short video of what appears to be a protest outside Costa Coffee - one of the brands the Jawad Business Group represents in Bahrain.Yfrog - video - Uploaded by baderkamalyfrog2 free image and video hosting on yoru social networksBut there are others online who warn the boycott could intensify the division between the Shia and Sunni communities. They are trying to reunite Bahrain and some netizens are raising awareness by using hashtag #boycottSectarianism.
“@Moooly85: Drinking Costa's Mocha and Jassmis's apple pie ” #BoycottSectarianism defined :Phussainx#BoycottSectarianism by boycotting ideas not people, by boycotting acts not businessesM_Sharaf@NoorAlHaji if ur intentions were to rescue muntezeh as well as jawad fair enough but by #BoycottSectarianism means ur spreading more hatebahrain2nightI will #BoycottSectarianism because I don't believe in sects to begin with #BahrainWafflesBahrainiJawad Group is not the only business in Bahrain that has been affected by the protests. The annual Bahrain Grand Prix, which is usually hosted by Bahrain International Circuit, could be cancelled. #Bahrain protesters created chaos. Many businesses left the country or reduced their work force. Frightened at the lawlessness.TruthofthelieBhThe F1 is not and should not be used in a political context. Many businesses in Bahrain need it to take place. Its an economic benefit.HasmanhIf you are in Bahrain, have you heard about more business boycotts caused by the sectarian divide? Tell The Stream on Facebook and Twitter

Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.

Monday: Ableism is discrimination against people with disabilities. What are some ways people can combat ableism? Record a video for the show.

Tweet to @AJStream