Edmonton woman gets veiled apology after burka ban
By Dave Lazzarino
First posted: Sunday, February 07, 2016 06:58 PM EST | Updated: Sunday, February 07, 2016 07:58 PM EST
She was kicked out of a store because of her clothing and then dealt with the social media fallout of her story online. But 19-year-old Sarii Ghalab has no intention of letting it break her spirit.
"That's just going to be how it is. For the rest of eternity there will be people hating on you because of the way you dress and the way you act," said Ghalab, whose brother's Reddit post last week about his sister being denied service at a north Edmonton shoe repair store got attention from readers across the country.
"Are you going to respond with hatred just like he acted with hatred?" she said. "If you're a good person, you're a good person, it has absolutely nothing to do with how you dress."
Ghalab went into Edmonton Shoe Repair in Northgate Centre Mall Jan. 28 but the owner, Ryan Vale, told her he wouldn't serve her because her face was covered.
Ghalab left and returned later with flowers and a letter explaining the reasons for her choice to wear the burka - that wearing it allows her to take power away from anyone who might choose to judge her for her looks and demand they pay attention to her character and what she has to say.
But she was turned away a second time and says witnesses can attest to Vale saying it was because of his "ethics" and not just security.
Vale has since issued an apology, saying he didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but added "if a lot of people started wearing full mask burkas in the store and shopping around I would definitely feel uneasy from a safety and security point of view."
Some places like banks and pharmacies have rules against balaclavas and hoodies to discourage criminal behaviour.
But without substantial evidence to show people wearing niqabs or burkas have committed crimes like robbery or shoplifting, that wouldn't be enough to defend against a human rights complaint.
According to Susan Coombes, a manager in education and engagement with the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC), each complaint is dealt with differently but offering service to people based on what they are wearing - something Vale admitted to doing - could be considered against the law.
Ghalab said rather than react to ignorance with a formal complaint, she prefers to take the high road, and suggests others who find themselves in her position do the same.
"Show the world that, through the way you carry yourself, through the way you talk or the way you interact, that you are not just a little girl," she said, "you're not just some random person. You're unique."
david.lazzarino@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/SUNDaveLazz
The owner of an Edmonton shoe repair store says his decision to deny service to a woman wearing a burka was motivated by safety, not because of religious or cultural differences.
Edmonton woman gets veiled apology after burka ban | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
By Dave Lazzarino
First posted: Sunday, February 07, 2016 06:58 PM EST | Updated: Sunday, February 07, 2016 07:58 PM EST
She was kicked out of a store because of her clothing and then dealt with the social media fallout of her story online. But 19-year-old Sarii Ghalab has no intention of letting it break her spirit.
"That's just going to be how it is. For the rest of eternity there will be people hating on you because of the way you dress and the way you act," said Ghalab, whose brother's Reddit post last week about his sister being denied service at a north Edmonton shoe repair store got attention from readers across the country.
"Are you going to respond with hatred just like he acted with hatred?" she said. "If you're a good person, you're a good person, it has absolutely nothing to do with how you dress."
Ghalab went into Edmonton Shoe Repair in Northgate Centre Mall Jan. 28 but the owner, Ryan Vale, told her he wouldn't serve her because her face was covered.
Ghalab left and returned later with flowers and a letter explaining the reasons for her choice to wear the burka - that wearing it allows her to take power away from anyone who might choose to judge her for her looks and demand they pay attention to her character and what she has to say.
But she was turned away a second time and says witnesses can attest to Vale saying it was because of his "ethics" and not just security.
Vale has since issued an apology, saying he didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but added "if a lot of people started wearing full mask burkas in the store and shopping around I would definitely feel uneasy from a safety and security point of view."
Some places like banks and pharmacies have rules against balaclavas and hoodies to discourage criminal behaviour.
But without substantial evidence to show people wearing niqabs or burkas have committed crimes like robbery or shoplifting, that wouldn't be enough to defend against a human rights complaint.
According to Susan Coombes, a manager in education and engagement with the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC), each complaint is dealt with differently but offering service to people based on what they are wearing - something Vale admitted to doing - could be considered against the law.
Ghalab said rather than react to ignorance with a formal complaint, she prefers to take the high road, and suggests others who find themselves in her position do the same.
"Show the world that, through the way you carry yourself, through the way you talk or the way you interact, that you are not just a little girl," she said, "you're not just some random person. You're unique."
david.lazzarino@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/SUNDaveLazz
The owner of an Edmonton shoe repair store says his decision to deny service to a woman wearing a burka was motivated by safety, not because of religious or cultural differences.
Edmonton woman gets veiled apology after burka ban | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
