Mahmood's Den

A national campaign against sectarianism is picking up steam, with more than 100,000 pins bearing the Just Bahraini logo being distributed.

The initiative was launched by Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif, who designed the logo and posted it on his site www.mahmood.tv.

It has since grown into something much bigger, with other like-minded people coming forward to support the campaign.

“I got fed up with all the sectarian issues that have been plaguing us. I was reading about certain current events and I watched an interview with Bishop Desmond Tutu, which inspired me and made me think that good things can happen,” he said.

“On an impulse I designed the Just Bahraini logo in five minutes and put it on the site.

“When my sister saw it, she turned it into a button, making 200 of them through the company she works for, Palace Enterprises, and it took off from there.”

The pins read: “No Shi’i, No Sunni, Just Bahraini!”

Another 400 buttons were made by Mr Al Yousif and other well-wishers soon came forward.

Now another 100,000 buttons have been ordered, with 11,000 already delivered.

Mr Al Yousif said that “100,000 is about a third of the Bahraini population”.

“This is going to be an ongoing campaign. I’m committed to continuing it for years.

“But this is campaign is not exclusively my own. My Bahraini friends, colleagues and I are crystallising what we feel, that we are not sectarian and that we hate sectarianism.”

The buttons are being distributed through the Piracy Unlimited stand in Dana Mall and through Frankie’s in Najibi Centre, Saar.

“We are also talking with a major supermarket chain as well,” said Mr Al Yousif.

He is already planning to widen the campaign beyond the buttons, drawing up a code of ethics that will be presented to parliament and municipal candidates to sign.

“By signing this, the candidates are committing in writing that they will not put forward any sectarian proposals. The parliamentary candidates will also be agreeing to put forward an anti-sectarian law,” said Mr Al Yousif.

Fifteen candidates, nine from the Democratic Progressive Forum Society and six from the National Democratic Action Society (Wa’ad), have already pledged to sign the document.

“We will need more volunteers to help us with the campaign by fielding calls, going to candidates’ headquarters and so on,” said Mr Al Yousif.

He would also like the logo to appear on T-shirts, caps, posters and elsewhere.

To support the campaign, contact Mr Al Yousif on 36668811.

More information is also available on the campaign’s official website justbahraini.org
Tariq Khonji :: GDN :: 24 Oct, ’06