- A security guard at the new
Morrisons store at Illingworth, Halifax, told the
65-year-old Muslim she couldn't go inside unless she
took off the headwear, which covers the hair for
religious reasons. The woman said she was left
"humiliated and embarrassed" but gave in because she
felt intimidated. She said she was so ashamed she didn't
tell anyone for weeks until her son asked her to go back
to the store with him. A spokesman for the store said: "Morrisons
embraces cultural diversity in its customers and its
colleagues.
"It is absolutely not our policy to ask any customer to
remove headwear, including garments worn for religious
reasons.
"We apologise that she was asked to do so. This should
not have happened.
"The security guard works for a third-party company.
"We have spoken to them to reiterate our policy that we
do not ask anyone to remove headwear when entering a
store."
-
The store manager has apologised to the family, who come
from Illingworth.
The woman does not want to be named.
Her 23-year-old son, who also asked to remain anonymous,
said he was furious at the way his mother had been
treated.
He said: "She was in tears. I was completely gobsmacked.
"A lot of Asian ladies wear headscarves. It's a respect
thing. If you asked them to take them off they would be
totally embarrassed.
"But she thought if she didn't do as he said it would
look dodgy or she would be told to get out. Now she is
scared to go back."
He said when he went to the store to complain, the
blunder was put down to a no-hoodies policy.
"I'm sure they know the difference between a headscarf
and a hoodie," he said. "I just hope it doesn't happen
to anybody else."