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New Islamic French Cola Propagating Peace

By Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent

PARIS, October 31 (IslamOnline.net) - Whether it is all politics or a humanitarian noble message for a further boycott of American and pro-Israel products, a new fizzy drink have hit the shelves of the French supermarkets donning the Islamic global tag of peace.

Carrying a call for spreading global peace and halting the aggressions against Palestinians and Iraqis, “Peace Cola” sell like hot cakes in France since the advent of Ramadan, a holy Islamic month marked by prayers and piety.

“It is mainly targeting Muslim and Arab communities in France, Belgium and Switzerland,” said the company director Rabeh Kashish, himself a Moroccan immigrant.

Two million bottles of the drink have made their way to the markets, and two more truck-loaded cargoes left for France to meet a high demand expected during Ramadan.

Other drinks that had appeared since the eruption of Palestinian Intifada against Israeli occupation, as Mecca Cola and Zamzam cola, make a similar blockbuster success in the Paris neighborhoods predominated by Arabs and Muslims.

Drinks For Worship

French Muslims say it is part of a worship, as these drinks were mainly launched to rival U.S.-produced world leader in the beverages' sector Coca-Cola and to show rejection to the U.S. foreign policies in a more effective way.

“With scenes beaming on the screen of humiliation inflicted on Iraqis and Palestinians, no wonder that people are relinquishing such American products,” said Malik Hassiss, a supermarket owner in the 18th District.

Hassiss said 6,000 tetra packs of Mecca Cola were sold within the first four days of Ramadan.

“Mecca Cola says it donates 20 percent of profits to bereaved Palestinian families, so it smacks of worship to buy such a product in Ramadan,” said 22-year-old Banan.

But it has become a larger message with many other supporters now joining forces after the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

“Other drinks as “Muslim Up” were produced and propagated as a French-European project standing up to U.S. merchandise financing the production of arms used against innocent people,” said Tawfiq Al-Thalwthy, a French of Moroccan origin.

But it still also for profits, something the producers did not deny, or others use to underestimate the value of the message the drinks convey.

“What does really matter is finding an alternative to U.S. commodities, but there are no problem with making profits out of this struggle,” said Abdullah Sari, a Palestinian French coalition member.

In February, After the launch of Zamzam cola and Mecca Cola, a new cola drink was launched in the U.K, like it's counterparts donning an Islamic tag; Qibla Cola, aiming at the Muslim community in the U.K.

Earlier this year, Iran came up with a new substitute for Ken and Barbie. Dara and Sara, the Muslim dolls, have been developed by an Iranian government agency to promote traditional values, with their modest clothing and pro-family backgrounds.

Also Seeking an alternative to the curvaceous flashy Barbie, U.S. Muslims now have Razanne, with long-sleeved dresses and head scarf.

Unlike Barbie, Razanne, with her modest dress and a removable hijab, exemplifies the virtues of a proper, young Muslim woman, such as modesty, piety and humility, said Saadeh.

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