---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 08:15:34 -0400
From: Islamic News and Information Net <[log in to unmask]>
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Date: Thursday, July 15, 1999 8:18 AM
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Bismillah irRahman irRaheem
In the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind
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Hijri date: Thursday 2 Raby` al-THaany 1420 A.H.
Assalamu'alaikum,
Recently we sent a letter (which was orginally sent to us from American
Muslims for Jerusalem and we modified it slightly for our purposes) to
Burger King (see below) protesting their decision to open a restaurant
three weeks ago in the Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories. We recieved this responce.
Yahya Abdul Rahman
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Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 16:39:29 -0400
From: [log in to unmask]
Thank you for your recent email regarding a new Burger King restaurant on
the West Bank and for giving me the opportunity to respond.
Burger King is sensitive to all nationalities, religions and cultures,
and it is our policy to be respectful of the needs of each in relation to
our restaurants. And while we appreciate the sensitivity in the West Bank
territory, our policy is to take the Burger King brand to our customers
and give them the opportunity to enjoy the Burger King experience.
The Burger King restaurant in Ma'ale Adumin on the West Bank has been
opened by Burger King franchisee, Rikamor Ltd. It is not the intention
of either Burger King or its franchisee to cause offense to the peoples of
the West Bank, nor to enter into political debate, and indeed, to do so
would be inappropriate.
Again, thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention.
Burger King
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Our comments:
For Muslims this is an unacceptable responce and we demand that this
Burger King be closed at once. We are calling on all Muslims worldwide to
BOYCOTT all Burger King products and voice you intention to do so to the
follow address:
Mr. Dennis Malamatinas,
CEO Burger King Corporation, 17777 Old Cutler
Road, Miami, FL 33157
Phone: (305) 378-7011
Fax: (305) 378-7403
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
And here was the letter we sent:
Mr. Dennis Malamatinas,
CEO Burger King Corporation, 17777 Old Cutler
Road, Miami, FL 33157
Phone: (305) 378-7011
Fax: (305) 378-7403 E-mail:
[log in to unmask]
Dear Mr. Malamatinas,
Muslims worldwide are questioning Burger King's decision to open a
restaurant in occupied territory.
The restaurant was opened three weeks ago in the Ma'ale Adumim settlement
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Located five miles east of
Jerusalem's Old City the settlement lies within the territory annexed
into Greater Jerusalem after the city was occupied in 1967. Ma'ale
Adumim is part of a series of Israeli projects that ring Arab East
Jerusalem cutting it off from the rest of the West Bank.
The territory on which the Ma'ale Adumim settlement is built is occupied
land. This fact is clearly recognized by the United Nations. The
settlement itself is also illegal under international law. The Fourth
Geneva Convention, to which Israel and the United States are signatories,
stipulates in Article 49 paragraph 6, 'The Occupying Power shall not
deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory
it occupies.' The whole strategy behind the establishment of these
settlements is to consolidate control over the territory Israel has
occupied.
In a Bloomberg News piece on July 4, the Chief Executive of Rikamor Ltd.,
the company that operates Burger King in Israel, was quoted as saying,
"Our policy is we're going to open restaurants wherever we can make
money."
The United Nations has condemned Israel for its continued occupation of
this land. Now Burger King has ignored international norms and appears
to have said occupation is fine- if we can make money. Muslims call upon
Burger King to, send a very clear message regarding its position on
business ethics regarding occupied territory.
Two main areas of concern for Muslim are:
1) This restaurant sends a message to Muslims, Arabs and Christians -both
in America and worldwide- that Burger King does not respect human rights
or international law.
2) This lack of concern for Palestinian refugees and their rights will
likely adversely effect Burger King's business both domestically and
internationally.
We remind that you have 10,365 restaurants worldwide (as of April 30,
1999). Of these 2,419 are located outside the United States.
The corporation has locations in several Muslim majority nations
including Malaysia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. USA Today
recently reported that you are specifically seeking to strengthen the
organization in international markets. You will not be welcome in our
lands and we will not give you any business if you continue with this
unwise decision.
Please reconsider your decision to open this restaurant. The choice you
make will send a message to Muslims all over the world who give you a lot
of business. One fifth of humanity is waiting for your move.
Yahya Abdul Rahman
ININ-NET
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