LONDON: A Muslim woman was refused service at one of the top fast food restaurants in London because she was wearing a hijab.
The 19-year-old student said she was stopped at the restaurant on Seven Sister’s road in Holloway, North London.
The restaurant has apologised and said the security guard responsible had been suspended.
In footage of the incident, the woman, who asked not to be named, asks a guard why she cannot be allowed to queue.
“It’s just a matter of taking it off,” he says.
She responds: “It’s not just a matter of taking it off. I wear this for religious reasons and I’m not ashamed of it, and I will stand in line and I will get the food I want, because this isn’t okay.”
When another member of the public intervenes to defend the teenager, the guard says: “It’s none of your business.”
The Independent quotes restaurant’s email to them as saying: “The restaurant has no policy which restricts or prevents anyone wearing a hijab, or any other religious attire, from entering our restaurants”.
The statement further says: “We welcome customers of all faiths and sincerely apologise for this situation.
“We are taking this matter very seriously and are addressing the situation with the individuals involved; the security guard, from a third party company, has been suspended.”
