Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2015-08-14
Boycott Divestment Sanction South Africa (BDS SA) activist Muhammed Desai says he was expecting an apology from Virgin Active after he was forcibly removed from the Old Edwardian’s Gym in Houghton for allegedly wearing a pro-Palestine t-shirt.
Desai says the managing director of Virgin Active, Ross Faragher-Thomas flew down to meet with him to discuss the incident which has been trending in the media and setting social media sites abuzz.
Desai claims he received neither an apology nor a retraction, acknowledgement of any wrong doing or confirmation that it was against company policy to walk into any Virgin Active Club anywhere in the country with a BDS t-shirt.
“It seriously looks now as if the only option available to us is to go to the South African Human Rights Commission as well as the equality court in order to get some sort of justice.”
Spokesperson for Virgin Active Les Aupaire told Radio Islam’s morning drive presenter Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat in a robust interview that the incident at the gym was never about the t-shirt.
“It was just that evening that we had several complaints and a threat of physicality against Mr. Desai. We believe in the freedom of expression and that translates in our clubs to be able to wear any t-shirt, with any political slogan on it that you wish.”
“It seems as we have banned Mr. Desai, not at all, banned what he’s wearing and banned t-shirts, absolutely, categorically not.”
Aupaire says Virgin Active deeply regrets what happened in the club and will having another meeting with Desai to discuss a way forward including investigating the behaviour of the complainants who became rowdy especially Howard Page who was seen in the video clip of the incident that was circulated.
“We’ll investigate fully, get more statements and issue a stronger statement.”
Moulana Ravat argues that Virgin Active have cornered themselves by refusing to apologise perhaps because an apology may result in a backlash from pro-Israeli gym goers.
“On the other the hand they trying every tactic to make this go away…The way to deal with this is not just to say the MD has come down. He had to come down as this was making national headlines .The best way to have resolved the dispute was to rather issue the written apology and close the matter.”
To listen to the interview with Muhammed Desai, click here:
To listen to the interview with Les Aupaire, click here:
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