**Translation into English:**
**"Sawsan Al-Shaer" insults the people of Bahrain, describing them as lacking knowledge of principles and comparing them to the jungle man "Mowgli"... A storm of responses confronts her.**
Media personality **Sawsan Al-Shaer** described the people of Bahrain as lacking knowledge of principles and compared them to the jungle man **"Mowgli"** from the animated series.
In a television program, Al-Shaer stated, "The Bahraini has become neglected, with no home to cultivate personal traits, no school, no system, no law, and no customs or traditions. The Bahraini has become like Mowgli."
Her remarks sparked a storm of protests and backlash, with activists on the social media platform **Twitter** launching a campaign under the hashtag **#Mowgli**, responding to Al-Shaer and condemning such descriptions of the Bahraini people.
Activist **Dhafer Al-Zayani** responded to Al-Shaer, saying, "If our children, as described by Umm Bassam, are Mowgli... and we need to teach them manners. Respected lady, our children... did not ask for a price to defend their homeland and leadership. And from the manners of our children... they did not demand a job in parliament." He added, according to a post by the Bahraini channel **"Sada"**: "The essence of the Bahraini, dear Umm Bassam... is that they do not deceive others to climb on their backs, nor do they lie about possessing an electronic army that shakes the scene. The lady compared the Bahraini to the cartoon character Mowgli, and I give you an example from the cartoon Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves."
He continued: "If Ali Baba had manners... he wouldn’t have stolen the thieves' money. Some, with feathers on their heads, know themselves. Whenever they decided to imitate Ali Baba’s manners, they shook the thrones of the corrupt... to gain a position or property. And the Bahraini remains in his poverty and need... a teacher to those who lack manners. His customs and traditions are preserved..." He concluded: "Finally, dear Umm Bassam, those you described as 'Mowgli' remain purer and more honorable than 'Ali Baba'."
**Dhafer Hamad Fahd Al-Zayani.** (Laha)
The article highlights the **major controversy** sparked by **media personality Sawsan Al-Shaer** with her remarks about the **people of Bahrain**, describing them as "lacking knowledge of principles" and comparing them to the cartoon character **Mowgli**.
**Key points addressed in the article:**
1. **Controversial Statements:**
- In a television program, **Sawsan Al-Shaer** stated that "the Bahraini has become neglected" and that "there is no home to cultivate personal traits," criticizing the **educational and social systems** in Bahrain. She then compared them to **Mowgli**, a cartoon character, expressing a negative view.
2. **Reactions:**
- These statements provoked angry reactions from many **activists** in Bahrain, who launched a campaign on **Twitter** under the hashtag **#Mowgli** to criticize these remarks and reject the offensive comparison to the Bahraini people.
3. **Dhafer Al-Zayani's Response:**
- **Dhafer Hamad Al-Zayani**, a well-known Bahraini activist, was among those who criticized Sawsan Al-Shaer's remarks. In his response, he defended the **people of Bahrain**, pointing out that Bahraini youth did not ask for any reward in defending their homeland. He also noted that Bahrainis reject exploitation and greed, referring to characters like "Ali Baba" from cartoon stories who took advantage of others.
- He described Bahrainis as continuing to **adhere to customs and traditions** that preserve values and principles, emphasizing that the **authentic Bahraini** remains pure and honorable, no matter the circumstances.
4. **Online Campaign:**
- Following this controversy, many **followers** and **activists** in Bahrain came out to defend their **people** against these statements, expressing their dissatisfaction with the **negative portrayal** directed at them.
**Messages conveyed through the campaign:**
- The activists' responses expressed **pride in the Bahraini identity** and adherence to values, emphasizing that the **Bahraini people** are not as described by media personality Sawsan Al-Shaer.
- At the same time, the campaign highlighted the **importance of respecting others** and treating all members of society with respect, especially when it comes to national communities facing political or social challenges.
**Summary:**
The issue reflects the **sectarian and political divisions** in Bahrain and highlights the **significant impact** that **social media** can have in shaping public opinion. It also points to the growing role of **online activists** in **engaging with political events** and defending values they consider fundamental, such as **national loyalty** and **adherence to traditions**.
**Further details on the controversy in Bahrain between Sawsan Al-Shaer and Dhafer Al-Zayani, along with the social and political dimensions of this incident:**
1. **Social and Political Background in Bahrain:**
Bahrain is a **small Gulf state** that has experienced tension between the **Shia and Sunni communities** for years. These divisions manifest in various areas, including politics, economics, fair distribution of resources, and the application of **political and social rights**.
Since 2011, Bahrain has witnessed **popular protests** demanding justice and equality, coinciding with the protest movements in **Arab Spring** countries. The government's response was harsh, with Gulf forces intervening to protect the ruling regime. After these protests, the political situation in Bahrain became more divided.
In light of these tensions, **media outlets**, particularly **television and social media**, have become key platforms for political and social conflict between **loyalists to the regime** and **opponents**.
2. **Sawsan Al-Shaer's Remarks:**
- **Sawsan Al-Shaer** is a **well-known Bahraini media personality**, known for her pro-regime views. In one of her television episodes, she described the **Bahraini people** in general as "lacking knowledge of principles" and compared them to the cartoon character **"Mowgli"**, who lacks clear moral standards.
- Her remarks came in the context of discussing **social problems** in Bahrain and her concerns about **moral decline** in society. However, her **negative generalization** about the Bahraini people sparked **widespread anger**, especially among those who saw these statements as a **direct insult** to the Bahraini identity.
3. **The #Mowgli Campaign and Responses to Al-Shaer:**
- After Sawsan Al-Shaer's remarks, an online campaign emerged on **Twitter** under the hashtag **#Mowgli**, where **Bahraini activists** expressed their dissatisfaction with these statements, which they viewed as an insult to the Bahraini people in general.
- In this context, **Dhafer Hamad Al-Zayani**, a well-known Bahraini activist, strongly responded to Sawsan Al-Shaer. In a post, he defended the **Bahraini people**, pointing out that **Bahrainis** sacrifice for their homeland and leadership without asking for anything in return. In his response, **Al-Zayani** used strong language, rejecting the description of **Bahrainis** as ignorant or morally regressive.
- Al-Zayani added that Bahrainis do not exploit others for their benefit, and that **dignity** and **authenticity** are what distinguish the **Bahraini people**. He used examples from **cartoon stories** to emphasize the distinction between Bahrainis and negative characters in **fictional tales**.
4. **Social and Cultural Implications of the Reactions:**
- The angry responses from **Bahraini activists** reflect the **sensitivity of the Bahraini people** towards any attempt to **insult their cultural identity**. They see a **continuous trend** by some media personalities to distort their image and **diminish their values**.
- The **Bahraini identity** is a sensitive topic in Bahrain, where there is a long-standing dispute over **political representation**, **civil rights**, and **fair distribution of wealth**. Part of this dispute involves defending **cultural values** and **Bahraini heritage** against forces that may attempt to **undermine this identity**.
- The responses to **Sawsan Al-Shaer** reflect the Bahraini people's rejection of being **stigmatized as morally lacking or socially weak**. Despite political differences, **national loyalty** and **pride in the Bahraini identity** remain unifying forces for society.
5. **Political Impact:**
- This incident illustrates the extent to which **media** influences **public opinion** in Bahrain. As seen in this campaign, the **digital space** has become a key arena for **expressing national loyalty** or **opposition to the ruling regime**, where opinions are exchanged quickly and publicly. These **online wars** can significantly impact **political balances** in Bahrain.
- Hashtags have become an effective tool in influencing **political discourse** and affirming **national loyalty** in the face of attacks or insults.
6. **Debate on Media and Bahraini Society:**
- The tension between **official media** and **opposition media** in Bahrain is evident in this incident. There is an ongoing debate about **media freedom** and **freedom of expression** in Bahrain, with some believing that there is suppression of opposing views. On the other hand, others see **pro-regime media** as presenting a **positive image** and **defending the Bahraini identity**.
- The online campaign led by **Dhafer Al-Zayani** against **Sawsan Al-Shaer's remarks** reveals the increasing influence of **digital platforms** in countering **traditional media discourse**, and shows how interaction with these platforms can affect **public attitudes** towards political events.
**Conclusion:**
The controversial remarks by **Sawsan Al-Shaer** and the subsequent chain of events highlight the **impact of social media** in shaping **public debate** in Bahrain. The campaign launched by **Dhafer Al-Zayani** demonstrates the **rapid response** of **Bahraini activists** who seek to protect their **country's reputation** and **loyalty to their values**. This incident sheds light on the **social and political tensions** in Bahrain and underscores the role of **media** in shaping the **Bahraini identity** and **political discourse** in the modern era.
Source:
https://fmbahrain.blogspot.com/?m=1
**To be continued…8**