The tobacco giant has seen sales decline by 5 per cent in the last quarter – they blame 2 per cent on ISIS
One of Britain’s largest tobacco companies is blaming its recent decline in sales on the instability caused by Islamic State (ISIS) in the Middle East.
Imperial Tobacco, the world’s fourth largest tobacco company, say almost half of their 5 per cent decline in sales is due to “the deteriorating political and security situation” in Iraq.
ISIS enforce strict rules against smoking – considering the habit a “slow suicide” and, therefore, anti-Islamic.
And now Imperial Tobacco are blaming two of their five per cent drop in sales on the jihadi caliphate’s ever increasing borders.
Imperial Tobacco said: “Trading reduced significantly against a backdrop of a worsening political and security situation in territories where we have a high presence.
“The deteriorating political and security situation has significantly impacted industry volumes.”
Anyone found smoking on land owned by the caliphate could be publicly whipped, massively fined or even executed.
Abu Mohammad Hussam, founder of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), an anti-ISIS group, told the Independent: “The first time he will be arrested and flogged (40 lashes).
“If he smokes again, he will be whipped and imprisoned. On the third occasion, he will be taken to a camp in the countryside and fined a large sum of money.”
A senior IS police chief was found decapitated with a cigarette hanging from his mouth in February earlier this year.
The words “O Sheikh this is munkar” were written on his body, translated as “this is evil, you Sheikh,” according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
