Benihana sues Kuwait blogger – social media fights back

Be careful what you blog, especially if you’re in Kuwait and don’t like Teppanyaki. After posting a bad experience in a newly opened Benihana restaurant in Kuwait, Mark Makhoul was surprised to find the popular restaurant chain was suing him for his negative opinion.

In the biggest case to rock the blogosphere in ages, social media supporters from all over the Middle East have been tweeting, messaging and poking their support for Mark and his blog, 248am.com.

Benihana has asked for KWD5,001 in compensation (around US$17,800) for the negative publicity Mark has brought on the restaurant chain since he posted.

Emirates 24/7 has the details:

Speaking to this website shortly after appearing on ‘Dubai Eye’ this morning, Mark, who runs the blog with his wife Nat, said, “I am going to fight this. I am going to go full-fledged on this case.”

“This is not the first time I have been threatened with legal action, but this is the first time it has turned out to be so stressful. I am going to fight it till the end,” he said.

“I have no idea what comments upset them. I really cannot find what I wrote that was bad enough to invite a lawsuit,” he added.

Mark also added that his writing has been significantly toned down of late, “I have got into trouble earlier….. With experience I have learnt not to go ballistic even when something is negative. I have compromised, and at times back talked, but until when can you do it? Anymore compromise and it would not make sense to read the blog. I am just going to fight this,” he added.

The support from the net community, according to him has made him realise that he is not alone. “The internet community has been quite supportive. It has been overwhelming. Everyone is behind me,” he added.

Check out the full story, here.

And be sure to check out Mark’s story, and his blog.

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