Campaign: Bahraini bloggers unite against Sectarianism

Written by Simon Columbus on July 5, 2008 – 1:35 pm -

Description: Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif and journalist Ahmed Al-Aradi have written a bloggers’ code of ethics to fight sectarianism in the Gulf country. They propose this yet to be reviewed and finished code to be physically and electronically signed on the International Blog Day, August 31.

Digital Activism tools: Several blogs, banners, Facebook.

How These Tools Are Being Used: The code was first published on Mahmood Al-Yousif’s blog and is to be spread via blogs. From there it has taken the step into printed newsletters, which discuss the campaign. Meanwhile, a Facebook group has been founded to discuss the code.

Outcome: The code is still to be discussed and will be signed on Blog Day, August 31.

The population of Bahrain is 80% Muslim, with Sunnites and Shiites each making up for about half of these. Even in recent history, sectarian clashes have shaken the country.
Mahmood Al-Yousif, one of Bahrain’s most reknowned bloggers, has used his influence in the past to take on the issue of sectarianism. In 2006, he published a first version of a bloggers’ code of ethics. Later, Al-Yousif was influential in founding the “Just Bahraini” campaign, which under the motto “No Shi’i, No Sunni - Just Bahraini!” tries to fight sectarianism on the small island. It has reached it’s fund-raising goals just earlier this year.


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Posted in Blogs, Campaigns, Mid-East & N. Africa, Social Networks |

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