Red Bull apologizes for employee’s discriminatory remarks on Hakkari

Click to read the article in Turkish

Red Bull Turkey has sent a written statement to the Hakkari Bar regarding the email sent by an employee to a mountaineer and warning against coming to the province by citing "safety issues".

Red Bull Turkey has said, "We will take the necessary measures within our institution to ensure that no such incidents will happen again."

A Red Bull Turkey executive sent an email to a foreign mountaineer, as it was revealed a few days ago, and defined the southeastern province as "the only province [in Turkey] that one should definitely avoid." In response to these discriminatory remarks, the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the Hakkari Bar Association filed criminal complaints.

CLICK - Discrimination against Hakkari by Red Bull employee: 'More dangerous than 80 cities'

As the incident has caused public outrage, Red Bull Turkey has addressed a written statement to the Hakkari Bar Association. Saying that these remarks do not represent the opinions of the institution, Red Bull has extended its apologies. The statement briefly reads as follows:

"To the Hakkari Bar Association;

"Red Bull Turkey does not agree with the opinions written by one of our employees about Hakkari to another person.

"We understand the disturbance caused by this situation and we are very sorry about this. Our employee is also sorry about this email.

"We, as Red Bull Turkey, will take the necessary measures within our own institution to ensure that no such incidents will happen again.

"In the upcoming period, as in various places of Turkey, we are also looking forward to organizing sporting, cultural and artistic events in our precious province of Hakkari."

What happened?

Mountaineering guide İskender Kahraman, in a message on his social media account, shared a screenshot of an email sent by a Red Bull Turkey employee to a mountaineer who wanted to come to Hakkari.

In the related email, the employee was seen to be referring to "safety issues" and warning the mountaineer against coming to Hakkari province, saying, "There are 81 cities in Turkey and Hakkari is the only one that you should definitely avoid." (HC/HA/SD)