Group of English and French women ‘are turned away from Paris restaurant for wearing Islamic headscarves’, prompting protest outside after footage goes viral
- A group of women claimed they were refused entry to the Matignon in Paris
- Said people at the restaurant were ‘racist’ and other should speak up about it
- Protesters gathered outside one day after the incident to demonstrate against it
Protesters have demonstrated outside a restaurant in Paris after a group of English and French women were alleged to have been ‘turned away for wearing Islamic headscarves’.
A young French woman had been out with a group of friends when she was refused entry to the Matignon restaurant, located near the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
She claimed those at the restaurant were ‘racist’ and that she had never experienced anything like it.
The woman claimed the venue told her group and another behind her with a reservation, that they were not able to enter because of the shoes they were wearing.
The woman on the left posted the video online claiming her group was refused entry because he friend (right) was wearing a headscarf
The restaurant (pictured above) is alleged to have discriminated against the women because of their headscarves
She disputed this as many of the women were well dressed, with most wearing designer clothing from the likes of Gucci and Fendi, however one woman in the video did appear to be wearing an Islamic head covering, this the woman said, was the reason they were not allowed in.
The French woman claimed the other group who had a reservation had been ‘English or something’.
The incident happened on February 27 and just one day later, groups turned up outside the restaurant to protest its decision.
A video posted online showed a group outside pinning banners to the outside of the restaurant.
A day after the incident protesters were outside the restaurant. They hit back at the owners due to the alleged discrimination
One of those, believed to have been in attendance tweeted: The answer to #islamophobie from the restaurant the #Matignon today. #nameandshame #racisme.
According to CEN the woman in the video claimed the restaurant had a ‘beautiful gang of racists’.
She claimed: ‘We were supposed to have dinner tonight at Le Matignon, everything was supposed to go well, it’s not the first time we’ve been there. But today we have an ‘intruder’!’
The woman added that things had ‘become serious’ in the city and that she had to speak up, branding it an ‘act of racism’ on behalf of the restaurant.
In 2011 France became the first European country to impose a ban on full-face veils in public areas, however, none of the women in the video seemed to have been wearing the full covering, with one just wearing a headscarf.
Local media claimed the woman’s allegations were ‘slanderous’, the restaurant is alleged to have claimed this in an Instagram post which is no longer on their account. MailOnline has contacted Matignon.
Another person also claimed to have been turned away from the restaurant despite wearing a shirt and tie.
He said he was the only Frenchman of Arab descent in the group and claimed it was because of this he was refused entry.