Calls from Saudi Arabia and UAE to boycott products of Turkey amid Qatar crisis
Following Turkey’s decision to deploy troops to Qatar amid the current crisis, a campaign against Turkey was launched over social media.
Started firstly by Saudis and followed along with people from the UAE, the campaign called for boycotting Turkey by not buying items produced by Turkish firms, such as Ülker, Tamek, Pınar, Reis Gıda, Çaykur, Tadım, Dimes, etc.
Inclusion of Turkish rakı, wine, and beer among the items listed to be boycotted caught attention since both Saudi Arabia and UAE enforce bans on alcohol consumption based on religious beliefs.
Talking about the boycott in his column, Kerim Ülker of Turkey’s Dünya newspaper wrote: “In the fast-spreading boycott calls over social media, Egyptian products are encouraged to be purchased instead of the Turkish ones... It is also noteworthy to mention that among the Turkish products called on in Saudi Arabia and UAE to be boycotted are Tekirdağ Rakısı, Yeni Rakı, and Efes Pilsen...”