Seven Sisters Beirut Saturday denied allegations that it had prevented a young couple from entering its premises because the woman was wearing a headscarf.
A man who claimed he was barred from entering the lounge bar with his veiled girlfriend Friday night earlier told The Daily Star that the bouncer at the door had informed them that the management would not "allow anyone with a hijab (headscarf)" to enter on that particular day.
7management, the owners of Seven Sisters, told The Daily Star in a statement that the lounge bar doesn't ban veiled women from entering. However, they have a policy "to inform them (veiled women) that alcohol is served inside, therefore making sure they are not surprised or offended by the abundant alcohol consumption."
It claimed that several veiled woman were present at the venue Friday night, noting that over 400 people were turned away because “several Football players were spending the evening there, which attracted a large crowd."
"The person behind the polemic had arrived with a large group of people ... they were denied access based on that fact alone," it said.
Seven Sisters Beirut was hosting a “Friday Night Goal” event, during which avid football fans could meet veteran international football players that were scheduled to play in the “Game of Legends” Saturday night at the Fouad Chehab stadium in Jounieh, north of Beirut.
The man, identified as A.B., says that Seven Sisters Beirut told him Thursday that reservations were required for the lounge, but that anyone could sit at the bar if they arrived between 8 and 8:30 p.m.
But when the couple arrived at 8 p.m. Friday evening, they were told that they needed a reservation and weren't allowed into the bar. He added that the front entrance to the restaurant was almost empty at the time.
“I was told I didn’t need to reserve a seat in the bar if I arrived early enough. However we were told by one security personnel that we can’t go in because we had no reserved seat," A.B. said. "An hour later I returned by myself and asked another guard if veiled ladies aren’t allowed and he said ‘no because it was a special night.’”
In a voice recording obtained by The Daily Star, a security guard at Seven Sisters can be heard saying that veiled women weren’t being permitted to enter the premises.
“Veiled women are not allowed in today?” A.B. asked.
“Not today,” the bouncer responded. “Today I have a special event.”
There have been several claims of discrimination in Lebanon’s capital city over veiled women being denied job opportunities and access to recreational activities due to their attire.
Discrimination at many Beirut companies is an under-acknowledged phenomenon that has witnessed an increase in informal reports in recent years.
