Middle East Rumors

Rumor: Coca-Cola runs advertising that is offensive to Muslims

A rumor has been circulated claiming that advertisements created by Coca-Cola depicted the Company's logo emblazoned on the Dome of the Rock and featured images of violence against Palestinians. The grisly images were circulated via the Internet and have been misinterpreted by some to be actual advertisements of The Coca-Cola Company. More recently, other fake Coca-Cola ads have been circulating that are offensive to Muslims.

Our Response: These images are fabricated by ill-informed or ill-intentioned third parties who do not understand our business in the Middle East, and beyond. We sincerely deplore this irresponsible abuse of our trademark, which is offensive to Muslims, among whom we count many employees.

The Coca-Cola Company operates worldwide in more than 200 countries and territories with different cultures, political systems, religions and histories. While The Coca-Cola Company is a global company, the Coca-Cola business in each country is a local business. Coca-Cola beverages are produced, sold and distributed by authorized local bottling partners, who own and operate bottling plants and sales/distribution centers, employing many local citizens.

For example, in the Palestinian Authority, The National Beverage Company, our Company's authorized local bottling partner, is an independent, privately held company, managed by local Palestinian businesspeople, who operate a Coca-Cola bottling facility located in Ramallah and distribution centers in Gaza, Hebron and Nablus. The National Beverage Company employs 200 local people and generates employment for hundreds of others in related industries. Throughout the Middle East, our business employs more than 20,000 local people.

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