July 5, 2011
BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) - An Australian pub that has a no headwear policy was forced to apologise Monday after ejecting a Sikh man for refusing to take off his turban.
A staff member at the Royal English Hotel in Brisbane barred the man on Sunday.
A spokesman for Spirit Hotels, which runs the pub, said the decision 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 told the Australian Associated Press.
"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."
Umesh Chandra, president of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin and the publisher of Brisbane's Indian Times, said the incident was isolated.
"Even in the police force the turban is widely respected and allowed to be worn by policemen," he said.
"In Australia, this is an isolated case."
