India apparel firm gets review bombed after refusing to supply uniforms to Israel police

An Indian apparel company says it will no longer supply uniforms to the Israeli police in protest over the occupation force’s targeted bombing of Gaza’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, which resulted in almost 500 civilian deaths including children.

The Mumbai-based firm which operates in Kerala, Maryan Apparel, had been making uniforms for Israel’s police and prison officials since 2015 and says it will no longer be accepting new orders from the occupation state until “peace has been restored”, explaining that the move was due to “moral reasons.”

The company’s managing director Thomas Olickal was quoted by the Times of India as saying: “We took the decision after seeing reports on the war, especially the one on the deaths of women and children at a hospital in Gaza which caused us severe pain.”

“Although both sides are denying their roles in it, we thought it is better on our part not to have a direct or indirect connection with it.”

“We are stopping the business agreement only till the war is over as it’s a moral responsibility,” Olickal said, clarifying that “We don’t have any affinity towards either side. If Palestine gives us an order now, we won’t take that either.”

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The managing director also confirmed that all previous orders will be fulfilled: “The production of fabric for their training uniforms is going on now. We will complete the work by November-December and deliver it as per their order.”

Maryan Apparel would be filing for bankruptcy shortly. Don't think Israelis are going to renew their contract again. Others may also drop out from this terror sympathising organisation.

— Venky🇮🇳 (@venky_r_s) October 22, 2023

Since reports of the company’s decision to suspend supplies to Israel broke last week, the company, whose factory is located at the state-owned industrial growth centre at Koothuparamba in Kannur, has received a sudden barrage of negative reviews on the Indian review website JustDial, by fellow Indians, likely due to the “full support” given to the Zionist state by Hindu nationalists rooted in their anti-Muslim bigotry.

Commenting on the company’s decision, Indian journalist, Rakesh Krishnan Simha, who has previously contributed to the right-wing outlet Swarajya, said on X that “Kerala has no locus standi in the war, but the communist party and Kerala Muslims have pressured the company.”

According to the National, Maryan Apparel also makes uniforms for the National Guard and Fire Service of Kuwait, Qatar Air Force, the Philippine Army and Aramco of Saudi Arabia.

Olickal told the outlet that the Israeli police “informed us that they need an extra supply of 50,000 pieces, but looking at the current situation, they’re killing innocent people in Gaza, we have decided to not make uniforms.”

“We make about 250,000 units of uniform pieces every month. But Israelis order about 100,000 annually. It is only 2 per cent to 3 per cent of the business. That will not affect us,” he said.

MEMO reached out to Olickal requesting additional comments on Maryan Apparel’s decision to halt supplies to Israel and the company’s recent negative reviews. However, an immediate response is still pending.

READ: India reiterates ‘principled position’ on Palestine-Israel as Modi speaks to Abbas