ID :
192755
Mon, 07/04/2011 - 13:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/192755
The shortlink copeid
Australian hotel ejects Sikh man for wearing turban
From Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jul 4 (PTI) A Sikh man was denied entry
into a hotel in Australia as he refused to take off his
turban, a media report said Monday.
Confirming the incident, management of Royal English
Hotel in Brisbane said it was trying to locate the man, whose
identity is yet to be ascertained, to tender an apology.
The hotel management told the Australian Associated
Press (AAP) that one of its staff members at the hotel in
Nundah asked the man to remove his turban Sunday under a no
headwear policy.
A spokesman for Spirit Hotels, which runs Royal
English Hotel, said the decision to ask the man to remove his
turban was an oversight.
"Our hotels have a policy where patrons may be asked
to remove headwear to help the venue manage security for staff
and patrons," the spokesman said.
"However, in this particular incident, the patron
should not have been asked to remove his turban, and we are
attempting to contact the patron to apologise.
"Hotel staff are being educated again on correct
application of the policy."
The incident came into light after a man called a ABC
radio about the episode.
The caller said that his daughter had been with a
group of friends at the hotel when one of them was asked to
leave because he was wearing a turban.
He told the ABC radio, the duty manager told them "no
we don't care what sort of hat it is; we don't allow anybody
to have anything on their head".
"The bar attendant said 'that's the policy; no-one is
allowed to wear a hat'," the caller disclosed.
A leader of Brisbane's Indian community said the
eviction was an isolated incident.
Umesh Chandra, who is president of the Global
Organisation of People of Indian Origin and the publisher of
Brisbane's Indian Times, said the turban is a respected
headwear.
He said he had not heard of any incidents where Sikhs
wearing turbans on licensed premises have been asked to remove
their headwear.
"Even in the police force the turban is widely
respected and allowed to be worn by policemen.
"In Australia, this is an isolated case," he said.
Queensland Hotels Association chief executive Justin
O'Connor said hotels had the right to set dress standards and
refuse entry or service to anyone who did not comply with
their code or breach responsible service of alcohol laws.
"As long as it's not in breach of the
anti-discrimination act then they can set a dress code,"
O'Connor said, adding "I'm just not sure where a turban fits
in."
Reports also quoted industry sources says that an
overzealous staff member took the hotel's policy of no hats
or caps too far.
Melbourne, Jul 4 (PTI) A Sikh man was denied entry
into a hotel in Australia as he refused to take off his
turban, a media report said Monday.
Confirming the incident, management of Royal English
Hotel in Brisbane said it was trying to locate the man, whose
identity is yet to be ascertained, to tender an apology.
The hotel management told the Australian Associated
Press (AAP) that one of its staff members at the hotel in
Nundah asked the man to remove his turban Sunday under a no
headwear policy.
A spokesman for Spirit Hotels, which runs Royal
English Hotel, said the decision to ask the man to remove his
turban was an oversight.
"Our hotels have a policy where patrons may be asked
to remove headwear to help the venue manage security for staff
and patrons," the spokesman said.
"However, in this particular incident, the patron
should not have been asked to remove his turban, and we are
attempting to contact the patron to apologise.
"Hotel staff are being educated again on correct
application of the policy."
The incident came into light after a man called a ABC
radio about the episode.
The caller said that his daughter had been with a
group of friends at the hotel when one of them was asked to
leave because he was wearing a turban.
He told the ABC radio, the duty manager told them "no
we don't care what sort of hat it is; we don't allow anybody
to have anything on their head".
"The bar attendant said 'that's the policy; no-one is
allowed to wear a hat'," the caller disclosed.
A leader of Brisbane's Indian community said the
eviction was an isolated incident.
Umesh Chandra, who is president of the Global
Organisation of People of Indian Origin and the publisher of
Brisbane's Indian Times, said the turban is a respected
headwear.
He said he had not heard of any incidents where Sikhs
wearing turbans on licensed premises have been asked to remove
their headwear.
"Even in the police force the turban is widely
respected and allowed to be worn by policemen.
"In Australia, this is an isolated case," he said.
Queensland Hotels Association chief executive Justin
O'Connor said hotels had the right to set dress standards and
refuse entry or service to anyone who did not comply with
their code or breach responsible service of alcohol laws.
"As long as it's not in breach of the
anti-discrimination act then they can set a dress code,"
O'Connor said, adding "I'm just not sure where a turban fits
in."
Reports also quoted industry sources says that an
overzealous staff member took the hotel's policy of no hats
or caps too far.