Lifestyle / ‘All Muslims Are Terrorists,’ Says French Restaurateur Refusing to Serve Muslim Customers

‘All Muslims Are Terrorists,’ Says French Restaurateur Refusing to Serve Muslim Customers

Lifestyle Aug 30, 2016

by Dilshad Burman

In yet another shocking incident of discrimination in France, two Muslim women wearing hijabs were refused service at a high-end French restaurant in Paris on Saturday night.

One of the women involved covertly filmed the incident at Le Cenacle restaurant, which is listed in the 2016 Michelin guide. The footage, posted online and widely circulated in France, has sparked outrage and calls for protest.

In the video, a man reported to be the restaurant's head chef is heard telling the women, “Terrorists are Muslims and all Muslims are terrorists,” the BBC reports. He went on to say, “This is a secular country and I have a right to an opinion…I don’t want people like you here. Full stop.” The women seem visibly shaken and tell the man they “do not wish to be served by a racist.” He responded, “Racists don’t kill people,” and finally told them to “get out.” Other diners seemed unphased and did not interfere or offer help.

^{A chef at Le Cenacle restaurant refused service to two Muslim women.

Photo Credit: YouTube.com}

According to The Independent, members of the local Muslim community gathered outside the restaurant over the weekend, demanding an apology for the alleged incident. Some protesters called for a boycott of the restaurant as well. The Committee against Islamophobia in France has also extended psychological and legal support to the two women, but it called for no protests outside the venue.

^{Le Parisien reporter Thomas Poupeau tweeted a photo of the heated exchange outside Le Cenacle restaurant.}
^{Photo Credit: Twitter.com}

The incident unfolded as racial tensions have once again escalated in France in recent weeks, with the controversial “burkini ban” deemed “seriously and clearly illegal” by France’s highest court. The rule, enforced locally by a number of towns, prohibits modest swimwear on the beach worn most often by Muslim women. The court found this prohibition to violate fundamental liberties — although right-wing politicians continue to strive to uphold the ban by passing legislation at the central government level. Critics are calling the ban a knee-jerk reaction to recent terrorist attacks in France.

Laurence Rossignol, the French Minister for families, children and women’s rights, tweeted her disgust in response to the restaurant incident. She said she has ordered an investigation into the chef's “intolerable behaviour.”

^{Photo Credit: Twitter.com}

The chef has now been questioned on suspicion of “racial discrimination,” reports Le Parisien, and has since apologized. Citing the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, he told local media, “I spoke out of turn.…I have a friend who died in the Bataclan attacks and wrongly mixed everything up.” He added that his comments do not reflect his true feelings.

Watch the video below.

^{Main Image Photo Credit: Google Earth}

Dilshad Burman

Author

Dilshad Burman is an award winning TV host and Canadian media personality. Born in Mumbai, India, she was surrounded by its creative energy and grew up with a passion for music, film and television. While completing her Bachelor of Arts in English literature from The University of Mumbai, she i...

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‘All Muslims Are Terrorists,’ Says French Restaurateur Refusing to Serve Muslim Customers

by Dilshad Burman

In yet another shocking incident of discrimination in France, two Muslim women wearing hijabs were refused service at a high-end French restaurant in Paris on Saturday night.

Dilshad Burman

COMMENTS

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