KUALA LUMPUR, August 6 — A pro-Palestinian group has criticised a rally at a McDonald’s outlet yesterday as un-Islamic, after the gathering against the fast food chain’s alleged links to Israel amid the bloody Gaza conflict turned violent.
Aqsa Syarif Berhad chairman Prof Madya Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor expressed regret with the protesters’ actions in throwing objects and rattling the doors of the restaurant in Dungun, Terengganu, which he said violated the law and Islamic precepts.
“Unrestrained and excessive acts are not part of a boycott as they are akin to vandalism,” Hafidzi said in a statement today.
“Even though consumers have the right to conduct a boycott to put pressure, it is not appropriate to use physical or verbal actions to scare people, or to harm the premise owner and workers physically or emotionally,” he added.
Hafidzi called on the public to report such violent incidents to authorities should they re-occur.
“To prevent such things from being repeated by irresponsible parties, Aqsa Syarif discourages people from holding demonstrations or rallies in front of or near any McDonald’s premises,” he said.
McDonald’s worldwide and in Malaysia have been targeted by boycotts stemming from the now-debunked allegation that the parent firm funds Zionist concerns in Israel, whose current ground offensive in Gaza has killed thousands of Palestinians.
English-language daily the New Straits Times reported today that Palestine supporters were planning to boycott McDonald’s on Friday for 24 hours.
UK paper the Guardian reported Monday that the month-long conflict in Gaza could possibly end after Hamas and Israel reportedly accepted a 72-hour ceasefire.
