Bahrain: Blogger seeks law to deal with sectarianism

Blogger seeks law to deal with sectarianism

Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

A Bahraini blogger has called on authorities to enact a law which criminalises sectarianism, favouritism and all types of discrimination.

“We need to discuss these issues in a proper manner with being less judgmental and more tolerant,” Mahmood Al Yousif told the Tribune yesterday.

“The government should enact a law which criminalises discrimination against sects, migrant workers and women. We are pushing for this law through our blogs and websites.”

Al Yousif has proposed a code of ethics for websites, forums and blogs to tackle sectarianism and said the code was for everyone to follow.

“We will launch the code on the International Blog Day on August 31. People can sign it by visiting the venue which is yet to be decided or sign it online to be part of the campaign,” Al Yousif said.

The initiative comes at a time when authorities have announced zero tolerance against forums, blogs and websites which promote sectarianism and incite hatred.
The draft of the code of ethics sites (without sectarianism) include refusing any suggestion or writings which contain sectarian concepts or incite hatred or abuse the freedom of religion, doctrine or belief. The signatories would insist on full compliance with all that is suggested on their sites, forums and blogs subject to national unity.

On the blogging scene in the country, Al Yousif said majority of the Arabic blogs tended to go with the emotional outburst. “There are fantastic writers out there but unfortunately they discuss against government lines or sects and ignore objectivity. A happy medium does exist but it is in minority. The fact is we all want to live together,” Al Yousif said.

“I am not saying that one should sacrifice freedom of speech but one has to respect others’ views. Let’s be more tolerant instead of jumping and shouting to make our voices heard,” he said.

This is the second initiative by the blogger to tackle sectarianism. In 2006 the ‘Just Bahraini’ campaign was launched and buttons with the Bahraini flag and message ‘No Shi’a, No Sunni... Just Bahraini’ were made and distributed that became instantly popular among the youth.

Two anti-sectarian petitions were launched in the past two months.
The Bahrain Journalist Association launched the drive to mark the World Press Day on May 3.

The National Democratic Action Society followed suit and launched the petition in the wake of war of words and tension between religious leaders of both sects.

---Bahrain Tribune