Nîmes Store Sparks Outrage with Ban on Veiled Women, Prompting Investigation

"As of today, any veiled person will not be allowed to enter the store." This is the ban that is posted on the window of the Vital store, and which has set the web on fire. This Thursday evening, the Casino group, owner of the brand, through a statement on twitter, had distanced itself from the personal initiative of the director, who had indicated that he "would assume the consequences" but who, since then, remains unreachable, reports Midi Libre.

"We Muslims, we are not terrorists, we Muslims do not accept all these tragedies. We are also French and this act of racism is unacceptable," was outraged a Nîmes resident. Like him, several have expressed their intention to file a complaint and demonstrate at the entrance of the store.

This Friday morning, the Nîmes store was the target of stone throwing, with the result that the window was completely damaged. The Nîmes justice system has indicated that an investigation, entrusted to the departmental security of Gard, had been opened on the threats received by the merchant on social networks, followed by the degradation of the store window. Another one was opened for unlawful refusal of sale and discrimination, this same Friday, reports the same source.

Abdallah Zekri, from the Observatory for the Fight against Islamophobia, intends to file a criminal complaint as soon as possible, stressing that this is not the time to fall into the trap of those who link Islam to terrorism. We will have to let justice take its course, he concluded.