AKP Youth Branch stages sit-in protests at Starbucks stores against 'its pro-Israel stance'

Turkish ruling AKP’s Youth Branch has staged sit-in protests at Starbucks stores across the country, arguing the company supports Israel against Palestinians.

Friday October 27 2023 04:58 pm

Duvar English

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Youth Branch on Oct. 27 staged sit-in protests at Starbucks stores across the country against the company’s “pro-Israel stance.”

In a statement, AKP Youth Branch head Eyyüp Kadir İnan said they staged “a ‘blocking action’ by sitting with our Palestine scarves for half an hour at Starbucks stores in our 81 provinces and all districts” in a move “to support the Palestinian people who are subjected to genocide and to say 'Stop!' to the war criminal Israel and its supporters who committed the genocide.”

“The purpose of this peaceful protest is to stand against bombs targeting children, women and hospitals. As (AKP) Youth, we call the world to #SayStop,” İnan added.

Starbucks şubelerindeki eylemimiz tüm Türkiye genelinde hiçbir taşkınlık yaşanmadan sona ermiştir.

Gazze'de yaşanan soykırıma, vahşete ve katliamlara destek veren markaya yönelik 30 binden fazla AK gençle gerçekleştirdiğimiz sessiz #SayStop eylemimizin Filistin halkının onurlu… pic.twitter.com/kr5LveyFUz
— Eyyüp Kadir İnan (@eyupkadirinan) October 27, 2023

Previously on Oct. 26, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) head Ufuk Yalçın announced that they notified the contractor company operating the cafeterias in their trains to stop selling Starbucks products.

“Our Noble Nation has always stood by the oppressed against the oppressors. As TCDD, we would like to inform the public that we will always support our PALESTINIAN brothers and sisters,” he added.

Kamuoyuna Duyuru:
Ekim ayının ilk günlerinden itibaren uluslararası kamuoyunda infiale sebep olan, mazlum FİLİSTİNLİ kardeşlerimize yapılan soykırım ve işgalci israil’i eleştiren çalışanlarına yönelik mobing uygulayan bahse konu kahve üreticisi firma ile Şirketimizin herhangi bir… pic.twitter.com/KDSjV9Pe5v
— Ufuk Yalçın (@uyalcin_) October 26, 2023

Last week, Starbucks sued Workers United, the union organizing its workers, in federal court in Iowa, saying a pro-Palestinian social media post from a union account early in the Israel-Hamas war angered hundreds of customers and damaged its reputation, AP reported.

However, Starbucks Turkey announced that the company does not provide any financial support to the Israeli government and the Israeli Army.