Insulting McDonald's customers ruins boycott on pro-Israel businesses

Boycott Divestment Sanctions Malaysia (BDS Malaysia) has condemned the extreme action of certain parties in labelling pictures of Malays consuming products from brands allegedly linked to Israel as “dogs” and “pigs”.

The group’s chairperson Mohd Nazari Ismail said the act went against Islamic teachings.

Customers should instead be educated on the reasons for the ongoing boycott efforts against such brands, including fast food chain McDonald’s, he added.

“If we want to convince others with our arguments, we must do it wisely. This has been told in the Quran, which advises us to be wise in dakwah (preaching).

"Abusive and insulting words must be avoided because that is neither wise nor smart," Nazari (above) told Malaysiakini.

"We should instead explain why McDonald’s is the focus of the international boycott effort," he added.

Nazari pointed out that all parties must abide by the country’s laws.

Even when reprimanding wrongdoing, one must do it within the rules, he noted.

“For example, if we see a Muslim entering a gambling den, we cannot resort to hitting him, but should instead offer advice.

"It’s the same issue with boycotting companies involved with Israel," he said.

'Don't get physical'

Nazari lamented the incident where five men were arrested after they allegedly provoked and threatened to hit customers at a McDonald’s in Sungai Isap, Kuantan, Pahang, last Saturday.

“We can advise people who don’t want to boycott, but there is no need for physical interference.

“This will give a negative perception to the boycott movement, which is a sincere effort to help support the oppressed Palestinians,” he added.

BDS Malaysia’s role in the boycott movement is to provide detailed information about the situation in Palestine, he said, and tell the world why help must be extended to the Palestinians.

Forbidden act

Senior lecturer of Quran and Sunnah Studies at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin echoed Nazari's remark, saying Islam prohibits insulting or equating humans to animals.

"This should not have happened in the first place, and it is sinful for someone to insult those who are not involved in the boycott by negatively describing them as dogs.

"This is because the Quran and hadith have stated that it is forbidden to insult fellow Muslims. Differences in opinions about the boycott are not a reason to insult others," he told Malaysiakini.

Earlier, Federal Territories mufti Luqman Abdullah also advised those boycotting brands linked to Israel to act within the law as extreme behaviour goes against Islamic teachings. - Mkini