Turkey's parliament partially bans Coca-Cola, Nestlé products

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Reuters
7 Nov 2023 16:28

According to parliamentary sources, only Coca-Cola beverages and Nestlé instant coffee have so far been removed from the menu.

A man raises his hand painted in red during a pro-Palestinians protest outside the Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 (AP)

According to an official statement from the Turkish parliament and a source who disclosed the information to Reuters, Coca-Cola and Nestlé products have been withdrawn from parliamentary restaurants due to their justified support for "Israel."

"It was decided that the products of companies that support Israel will not be sold in restaurants, cafeterias, and tea houses in the parliament campus," said a parliamentary statement, without naming the companies.

A source within the parliament informed Reuters that only Coca-Cola beverages and Nestlé instant coffee have so far been removed from the menu. The decision, the source stated, was made in response to public demand.

Turkey decides to launch major action against Israel, removes products of brands that support Israel from the menu of Parliament.
Nescafe and Coca Cola removed from the menu. pic.twitter.com/i7bpHLkqR8
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) November 7, 2023

Due to the ongoing onslaught of Palestinians in Gaza, several countries have requested that their Israeli ambassadors be expelled.

Turkey and Jordan recalled their ambassadors, Saudi Arabia announced a halt in normalization talks, while Honduras, Colombia, and Chile withdrew their ambassadors as well. Meanwhile, Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with "Israel" over the ongoing war crimes in Gaza.

In South Africa last week, a National Day of Action took place in solidarity with Palestine during which protesters continued to urge the South African government to close the Israeli Embassy in South Africa and to implement legislation for a boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign against "Israel".

In Egypt, a local and unpopular soda brand Spiro Spathis has now garnered fame again because of the boycott. Founded in 1920, the company recently received over 15,000 applications in a hiring round as a result.

However, the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce warned that it could negatively impact the country's economy as it said in a statement, "The impact on the Egyptian investors and tens of thousands of workers will be profound."

In Jordan, social media posts asked consumers not to "pay for bullets." A consumer, Abu Abdallah, told AFP in a grocery store looking at flavored milk, "Ah, this is made in Tunisia," with his four-year-old son Abdullah beside him.

"This is the least we can do for our brothers in Gaza," he said. "We must boycott."