Blind Date this Ramadhan....?

This Ramadhan as always, Muslims will be breaking their fasts with dates and water, as is the Prophetic tradition. Followed by samosas, kebabs, chicken wings, etc etc...which isn’t quite found in the books of hadith. Anyhow, before my mouth starts watering, let’s get back to the subject of dates...of the blind variety.

 Blind dates?.... I hear you asking. Wasn’t that Cilla Black a few decades back? No, I’m talking about the scrumptious dates we are busy buying from our local grocers and supermarkets. Blind because do we know where they come from? Mecca, Madina, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Israel....

Sorry Israel? But this packet has a Jordan Valley logo, so surely they are from Jordan?

That’s exactly the point. Israel is increasingly ‘clever’ in how it markets its products internationally. Especially given a lot of fresh fruit produce is grown on illegal settlements in the West Bank. The settlements are illegal under international law, and the produce should not be available for sale in the UK. The land is illegally occupied - stolen - from the Palestinians, and Israel is profiting. By purchasing these dates, we are supporting Israel in the oppression of the Palestinian people

We know a picture speaks a thousand words, so here is one, sadly, I am sure you are familiar.

Showing exactly how much land has been stolen from the Palestinians over the last sixty years. Not being content with this, the illegal settlements are built on the remaining ‘green areas’ on the right, known as the West Bank (of the River Jordan). Hence the misleading product names for Israeli dates, such as Jordan River, Jordan Plains and Jordan Valley. Other brands to be avoided are King Solomon Dates, Mehadrin and Hadiklaim. I have surveyed our local grocers; I found these brands available for sale. You can see the brand logos on the poster below to help you identify the products easily. About 50% of the popular Medjoul dates are produced by Hadiklaim on stolen Palestinian land.

So this Ramadhan, don’t buy your DATES BLINDLY, or you could end up with a DATE FROM HELL!!!

Bayyina Foundation is supporting Friends of Al-Aqsa in promoting the boycott of Israeli dates and highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people, with poster and leaflet campaign in the area.

Ramadhan Mubarak to all from Bayyina Foundation, may Allah make it a means of mercy, forgiveness and emancipation for us all. Ameen.