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Mohammad al-Obra
Photo: Mohammad al-Obra
Nightclub denies Arabs entry, will compensate by NIS 40,000
Beersheba club bars two Arabs, lets Jewish friends in; lawyer disappointed with compromise: Not full compensation, court lends hand to discrimination
A Beersheba nightclub will compensate two Arabs with NIS 40,000 after refusing them entry, letting their Jewish friends in while they remained outside.
"It wasn't a money issue," said Mohammad al-Obra, who arrive at the Interpol nightclub to celebrate his 18th birthday but was barred from entering. "I wanted them to apologize. The mere fact they agreed to settle is for me a confession of guilt."
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The sides reached a settlement according to which the court will rule without the plaintiffs' interrogation. The judge also required the club to cover the plaintiffs' legal fees.
On 2009, Mohammed, at the time a law student, arrived with his friend Abdullah al-Romili at the nightclub to celebrate his birthday with several other friends.
According to the indictment, their friends, all Jews, arrived at the club early and entered without any obstacles. But when al-Obra and al-Romili arrived, the hostess asked them to present an ID and then demanded to see their club membership.
"The plaintiffs directed her (the hostess') attention to the fact that at least five patrons entered before without any demand to present a club membership card," the indictment read.
The two called their friends inside the club for help while the hostess let other patrons in.
"Later, with no other choice, the plaintiffs and their friends were forced to leave the scene humiliated, greatly disappointed and insulted," the indictment added. The plaintiffs demanded compensation to the sum of NIS 100,000 (some $27,000).
"I wanted less money, the important thing was the apology," Mohammed said. "If this will stop them from doing this again then I got what I wanted.
"It was an unpleasant feeling when the hostess refused to let us in, even more so since it was my birthday.
"It was sad to see my Jewish friends get in while my friend and I stayed outside. That's what annoyed me about the whole thing. They weren't even asked to present their IDs and we had to go through all this degradation."
Their lawyer, Isamil al-Romili, said in response: "The verdict didn't punish them to the full extent of the law, which allows compensation up to NIS 50,000, and it doesn't reflect the gravity of the act.
"With that, the court does not lend its hand to fight the phenomenon. It's possible that club owners will find it is worthwhile to pay a certain sum and continue in the discrimination policy."
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