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Nissan Retlev-Katz tells me that "the Coca Cola company has a Myths and Rumors webpage on its main website. There are only three subheadings under this page, but the massive global company felt it necessary to devote one entire section solely to rumors propagated in one geographic area - the Middle East. It won't surprise you to know that of the 7 rumors listed, one says the company is 'Jewish' and another that it donates money to Israel."
Among the rumors Coke refutes here:
Rumor: Boycotting Coca-Cola makes a statement against America and American (foreign) policiesRumor: The Coca-Cola Company is a Jewish company. (Variations of this rumor suggest that the company is affiliated with the Mormon religion.)
Rumor: Warning not to buy Coca-Cola due to possible contamination by terrorists
Rumor: Coca-Cola contains material making it unsuitable for vegetarians and MuslimsRumor: Coca-Cola contributes profits to Israel
Rumor: Coca-Cola runs advertising that is offensive to Muslims
Rumor: Anti-Muslim messages appear in graphics (No Mohammed, No Mecca)
All this is consonant with the rumor-mongering that is rampant in the Muslim world, and with what Yoram East in WND calls "the cola jihad":
Coke's legacy had spurred the launch of an alternative soft drink company, Mecca-Cola, some three years ago. It was designed to cash in on anti-American sentiment around the world. Mecca-Cola was introduced in France in 2002, and is now exported throughout Europe and the Arab world....New Islamic consumer products penetrating the North American market, mostly in the snack and fast-food sector, contain political markers and frequently subtle political insinuations.
In most cases these messages are anti-American, anti-Semitic or anti-multinationals – while at the same time cleverly promoting subliminal Islamist ideas. In essence these products, marketed with western techniques, serve as a means of condemning the very concepts used to bring them to consumers' shelves....
Another beverage with clear political markers is France-based Mecca-Cola. The site of this beverage, which is among the leaders of the cola wars, identifies the business as having charitable goals. Mecca-Cola claims to be anti-materialist and anti-capitalist, labeling the marketing origin of western top beverages as based on corruption. One argument is that others, namely western and American products, do not share their revenue with zakat (charity), whereas Mecca-Cola claims to be assigning 20 percent of its income to charity.
While insisting it has peaceful goals, the Mecca-Cola website leaves no doubt most of their donations go "to the Palestinian people who are experiencing indifference and general complicity, these being the most wretched and most contemptible acts of Apartheid and Zionist fascism." This beverage, marketed and sold in North America turns any food store or cooler selling Mecca-Cola, to a political billboard aimed also at the U.S.
One battlefield of the cola wars is in Iraq. The campaign there is noticeable more in Baghdad where, Arab and Muslim brand names bitterly campaign against American bottling plants re-opened after 13 years of boycott. The fact American Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola are now available angers Muslim zealots. They are doing their utmost to harm the marketing of "infidel cola," suggesting the buyer should prefer drinks produced and bottled in Egypt, Kuwait, Syria and Lebanon, and whenever possible purchase an explicit "Arab-Muslim drink." One report on Pepsi distribution in Iraq suggests that in 2003 Pepsi sold 7.2 million bottles a month, indicating the figure is down more than 60 percent from its pre-war sales figures. A report from a Baghdad supermarket quotes the owner saying he is going to stop selling Iraqi-bottled Pepsi until the formation of an elected Iraqi government expected next year. This political linkage, laced with nationalist elements, is felt in many places across Iraq and the region....
The phenomenon of Muslim or jihadi products is anchored in the Arab boycott of western, American and Israeli products. The boycott is now entering a new phase of combating American symbols by introducing Muslim symbols in look-a-like products. These are sold worldwide and in the last few years have begun to compete with American symbols in America itself. Intelligence analysis of the phenomena suggests the need to examine the labeling and advertising of each product suspected of sharing profits with terrorism. An Israeli analyst told G2B Arab and Muslim countries systematically inspect each and every product they import to guarantee there is no connection to Israel.
Posted by Robert at August 4, 2004 8:30 AM
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Go ahead and boycott...We'll drink it up.....
Posted by: DCWatson![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 4, 2004 9:32 AM
Mr.Spencer, I suggest you illustrate this post with the following image:
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/islam.asp
It is a VERY common conspiracy theory in the Arab world that "Coca Cola", if you read it in Arabic in the mirror, means "No Muhammed, no Mecca". PEPSI of course means Pay Every Penny to the Survival of Israel........
Posted by: Ali Dashti at August 4, 2004 9:38 AM
Without the revenues from oil, the Muslim states, groups, and individuals who fund the Jihad -- not only its armaments but the other weapons that make the spread of Islam into the dar al-Harb possible, such as mosques and madrasas and a small army of Western hirelings (chiefly ex-diplomats, retired C.I.A. agents, and professors at Arab-funded centers for Arab or Islamic or "Interfaith" Studies, with some journalists and P.R. men thrown in)-- which is a permanent and immutable feature of Islam, would lack the wherewithal, and the Jihad, as an ideology, would remain, but the ability to conduct it would be sharply diminished. So every measure, including taxes to reduce demand and to recapture oligopolistic rents (which might have saved the oil consumers, over the past 30 years, round about 1-2 trillion dollars, if we had kept our wits and not fallen for the siren song of "Saudi moderation" and "Saudi friendship" that those hirelings kept repeating -- and repeat still.
But as to the small number of other products, one need not buy Iranian pistachios, when those from California are just as good. Dates -- well, in the Monoprix chain in France, it may be hard to resist fresh dates from Tunisia, but one can stick in this country to those from California. Most favored nation status for Jordan, and textiles manufactured there? Sorry, when one sees any sign that something will contribute to the wellbeing of those who hate us -- whether abroad, or within the dar al-Harb, simply take your custom elsewhere.
And if the boycott of Israeli goods extends even to the smallest item, one wonders if, given the use of Israeli advances in such areas as computer chips, one could start a campaign to persuade the Arab and Muslim world not to import computers -- or better still, manufacture them entirely at home. As for the Salk vaccine, streptomycin, penicillin (if one remembers the major role Ernst Chain), anything that even hints at Einstein, von Neumann, Leo Szilard, Hans Bethe, I. I. Rabi, Stephen Weinberg, or in the biological line, Otto Loewi, Rosalind Franklin, Max Perutz, Aaron Klug -- names that come idiosyncratically to mind but another thousand or ten thousand are there to be fished up -- one hopes that any textbooks where these names appear, which no doubt form part of a sinister plot designed to demoralize and shame Arab Muslims, will simply be left off the syllabus at Arab universities, or remain unread by Arab students wherever they may study.
And if the richest Arabs can afford to receive medical treatment in the West -- MGH, the Children's Hospital, the doctors of Harley Street -- not only to they not boycott Jewish doctors, but anecdotal evidence suggests that they deliberately request Jewish doctors (shades of the Ottoman Padishahin, who were always treated by Jewish doctors). At home, however, they wouldn't like news of this to get around, and no doubt noisily promote the boycott of Israeli-connected goods.
This endless boycott of Israel by the Arabs has a name. It is called cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Posted by: Hugh at August 4, 2004 9:44 AM
Interesting timing, Makka-Cola has just started selling in Israel of all places: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=66806
"Explaining the marketing of Mecca-Cola in Israel, according to a Voice of America report, Mathlouthi said he wanted to "struggle against Zionism inside its home." "
Also, above Yoram East says "The boycott is now entering a new phase of combating American symbols by introducing Muslim symbols in look-a-like products."
This has to be expected in all things, this is the traditional "khalifah" (replacement) dimension of Jihad.
Posted by: Tziona at August 4, 2004 11:08 AM
We need our own anti-Jihad cola, with money going to fight Islam and Jihad.
Posted by: Voltaire at August 4, 2004 2:28 PM
20% of their income will go to zakat???
We should all realise that Jihad is one of the mandatory uses of zakat funds. It is interesting that these funds may also be used to bribe people to become muslim. Please note that non-muslims are NOT included in any of the categories below (the poor etc.).
The Noble Qur'an At-Taubah 9:60
As-Sadaqāt (here it means Zakāt) are only for the Fuqarā' (poor), and Al-Masākin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islām); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allāh's Cause (i.e. for Mujāhidūn - those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allāh. And Allāh is All-Knower, All-Wise.
Posted by: fides at August 4, 2004 5:59 PM
It could also be said that no muslim charity can be considered to be innocent, as the Quran dictates that zakat funds can(must?) be spent on Jihad.
Posted by: fides at August 4, 2004 6:01 PM
Would have thought the name 'MECCA- COLA' would have been branded SACRILEGE' by usual Koran thumping, outraged Muslim Clerics?? Perhaps they only do this with products made by Infidels...
Posted by: Morgane at August 4, 2004 6:03 PM
Wow,you'd think with all that extra time on
their hands tey would help out with charities or
missions for the homeless or street-kids and
aids victims.
Does anybody remember around the mid 80's there was a bizaare protest by Muslims when a shoe company had a marking on the soles that appeared to be Arabic for Allah.
I think it had to be place in front of a mirror
to be read,Muslims smashed and jumped on the shoes as a product of blasphemy to Islam.
A few Muslims wacked their heads to the point of drawing blood,seeing evil in almost every object that looks like a secret attack on Islam seems to speak volumes about the faith and not the unbelievers.
at August 4, 2004 6:59 PM
Mecca Cola....hmmmm,
Where is the ACLU when you need them?!
at August 5, 2004 12:08 AM
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