Indian eatery in Bahrain shut after refusing entry to hijab-clad woman

An Indian restaurant in Bahrain’s Adliya was shut down by authorities after it reportedly refused entry to a woman wearing the hijab.

The eatery in Adliya in Manama was shut down after a video circulated on social media showing a staffer not allowing a hijab-clad woman from entering the eatery. The woman’s friend says in the video that she had gone to the restaurant with her friend but was surprised to see that the latter was not allowed to enter because of her attire.

Following the incident the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) shut down the restaurant under Decree Law No 15 of 1986 while initiating an inquiry into the incident.

“We reject all actions that discriminate against people, especially regarding their national identity,” the ministry said.

While assuring that legal action against the eatery would be taken, the ministry has asked the public to report any such incidents of discrimination through National Complaints and Suggestion system Tawasul or by dialling the Consumer Protection Centre on 17007003.

The restaurant management, on the other hand, has apologised for the incident and said that the “mistake” was committed by their duty manager who was suspended after the incident.

“We have been serving our customers from all nationalities living in this beautiful kingdom for over 35 years now. Ours is a place for everyone to come and enjoy with their families and feel at home,” the restaurant management said in a statement posted on social media.

“In this instance, a mistake has been made by a manager who has been suspended and this doesn’t represent who we are,” the statement read.

The incident has gained prominence amid the hijab row back at home. The Karnataka High Court recently said that the state government’s ban on the wearing of hijab in educational institutions was not essential to Islamic practice.