Tourist establishment accused of banning veiled women in Egypt

The story began with a video clip posted by one of the girls on social media, in which she said that she had made a reservation to celebrate her birthday in a famous restaurant in Cairo, but when she and her friends came, she was surprised by the restaurant’s management asking one of her friends to leave because the place does not allow veiled women to enter.

The girl explained that all means of understanding with the restaurant management failed, and she and her friends were forced to leave, after she expressed her anger and deep dissatisfaction with “this discrimination.”

The video of the girl, which was widely circulated on social media platforms, sparked angry comments and calls for action by the authorities.

official move

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that it had moved to reveal the fact that veiled women were banned from entering a tourist facility.

The ministry said:

• Referring to what was circulated on the social networking platform “Facebook” regarding a tourist establishment banning the entry of veiled women from its visitors, the committee assigned by the Ministry to inspect this facility confirmed that the information circulated about the incident was incorrect.
• During the inspection, the committee noticed that the establishment received all its patrons without exception, and the presence of a number of veiled patrons, practicing their lives normally and consuming food and drinks without being subjected to any harassment.
• The committee reported that there are three veiled women working in the facility, which confirms its welcome to all visitors, whether workers or visitors.
• In light of the issuance of the Hotel and Tourist Establishments Law promulgated by Law No. 8 of 2022 and its executive regulations, no hotel or tourist establishment has the right to prevent veiled women from entering, enjoying and obtaining all the services provided by them.
• Whoever is exposed to such behavior, if any, in any of the hotel or tourist establishments licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, must submit a complaint to the Ministry on the designated hotline.
• In the event that any of the complaints submitted are confirmed, the Ministry shall immediately take all legal measures prescribed in this regard.

Reasons for frequent controversy

The head of the Central Administration for Hotel Establishments, Shops and Tourist Activities at the Ministry of Tourism, Muhammad Amer, said in statements to “Sky News Arabia” that:

• The debate about this issue regarding the ban on veiled women or the ban on wearing the burkini in some tourist facilities is repeated and renewed almost every year.
• The reason for this is that it is easy to publish anything on social media and it is circulated without verification.
• We do not question anyone’s words, but there are official channels and a hotline that receives all complaints around the clock.
• There is strict oversight and committees tasked with inspecting tourist facilities and verifying any complaints.
• In the event that any discrimination is proven on the part of the tourist establishments for any reason, the penalty may reach their closure.
• In the aforementioned incident, we found that the restaurant originally allows veiled women to book, and therefore the idea of ​​preventing veiled women from entering it is illogical as long as it allows them to book, as veiled women work in it.
• There is no discrimination on the basis of dress, color, religion or race within the tourist facilities in Egypt.
• Complaints are not only received against facility managements, but there are complaints that may also be received from establishment visitors against the actions of other pioneers who violated their privacy.
• We do not absolve the facility managements of any wrong behavior, as this is possible, and some workers may have a misunderstanding of the instructions, but when it is confirmed that the transgression was intentional, the punishment will be severe.

It should be noted that in September of last year, a great controversy erupted about preventing some tourist facilities for women from wearing the swimming costume known as the burkini, which is intended for veiled women in the swimming pools.

However, the Ministry of Tourism confirmed at the time to “Sky News Arabia” that “there is nothing in the Egyptian Tourism Law that prohibits going to swimming pools in a burkini or any other garment, provided that its material is suitable for swimming activity and health requirements are observed.”

And before that incident, a crisis erupted about preventing a tourist “cafe” for a veiled woman from sitting in it, and the Ministry of Tourism also moved at the time and took the necessary measures.