March 16, 2003	Sunday	Muharram 12, 1424

PARIS, March 15: Just as the existence of Coca Cola brought about in its wake the creation of Pepsi, it was inevitable that France which gave the world the bestselling Mecca Cola soft drink, would give it another politically engaged beverage, Muslim-Up.

That seems to have been the principal objective of Khabeb el Hasni and two other French nationals of Tunisian origin who decided late last year to set up the new company which has just manufactured the first bottles of Muslim-Up.

On Muslim Up’s Internet website, its stated aim is nothing less than to “thumb our noses at the Made in USA superpower and the arrogance it demonstrates in wanting to manage “world peace.”