Indian restaurant in Bahrain denied entry to a hijabi woman. Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) have shuttered the restaurant named Lantern after it allegedly denied entry to a woman in hijab.
The video of the woman being sent away from the restaurant went viral causing social media outrage. The BTEA has asked, “all tourism outlets to comply with regulations and avoid enforcing policies that violate the laws of the Kingdom”.
The report further adds, “We reject all actions that discriminate against people, especially regarding their national identity,’ the BTEA said in a statement. The restaurant, called Lanterns and located in the Adliya locality of Bahrain’s capital Manama, was closed in compliance with Decree-Law No 15 of 1986, which regulates the tourism outlets including restaurants and hotels.”
Read more: Hijab not part of religious practice: Indian court upholds hijab ban
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Restaurant issues an apology
The restaurant has also apologized and claims that the manager of the restaurant has been suspended. The restaurant posted a statement on Instagram. “Everyone is welcome to Lanterns as how it has been for more than 35 years that we have been serving all nationalities in the beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain. A lantern is a place for everyone to come enjoy with their families and feel at home. In this instance, a mistake has been made by a manager who is now being suspended as this does not represent who we are. As a goodwill gesture, we welcome all our Bahraini patrons to Lanterns on Tuesday 29th of March to have complimentary food on us.”
The incident of discriminating against a hijabi woman at a restaurant, happening in a Muslim country like Bahrain has shocked Muslims globally.
On the other hand, in India, the public spaces are increasingly becoming insecure and unsafe for hijabi women. Karnataka High Court earlier this month backed the state’s ban on the hijab placed in February.