Parliament banned the sale of the company’s drinks in parliamentary buildings on November 10, 2023
The Turkish parliament, which is controlled by the ruling coalition of AKP and MHP, banned the sale of Coca-Cola products in parliamentary buildings. The reason is that the company, according to the parliament, supports Israel, which has been waging a war in Gaza against Palestinian militants since November 8, 2023. This decision is the first intervention of the government against global brands in connection with the Israeli war in Gaza.
The decision of the parliament was announced by spokesman Numan Kurtulmus. He said that Coca-Cola supports the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians. As an example of this support, he said that Coca-Cola is one of the main sponsors of the Israeli football league, which is played also on the occupied territories. He also said that Coca-Cola has several production plants in Israel, which employ Israeli citizens.
The decision of the parliament caused a stir in Turkey. Some support it, because they consider Israel to be the aggressor in the conflict with Palestine. Others criticize it, because they think that it is discrimination against a specific company.
Coca-Cola has not yet commented on the decision of the parliament. However, on its official website, it states that it respects human rights and supports peaceful resolution of conflicts. It also claims that its products are intended for all people regardless of their religion, race, gender or political belief.
The decision of the Turkish parliament is a significant signal. It means that Turkey is willing to take steps against global brands that it believes support Israel. It is possible that similar steps will be taken by other countries that are in conflict with Israel, or that sympathize with Palestine. This could have a negative impact on international trade and diplomacy. On the other hand, the decision could also be an opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation between Turkey and Israel, if both sides tried to find a common language and a solution to the conflict in Gaza.
Questions for discussion:
Is the decision of the Turkish parliament in accordance with the principles of free enterprise? What are the consequences of the decision for Coca-Cola? Can similar decisions become common practice in the future?
Photo: Breston Kenya: https://www.pexels.com/sk-sk/photo/styl-obchod-nakupovat-exteriery-1300576/
