Protesters outside the Seven Sisters Road branch of McDonald’s called for a boycott of the fast-food restaurant on Saturday morning

PROTESTERS called for a boycott of McDonald’s after a woman wearing a hijab was refused entry to its Seven Sisters Road branch.

Around 50 people gathered at a hastily organised demonstration outside the restaurant on Saturday morning after a video showing the incident spread online the previous evening.

In the clip, a security guard tells the unnamed 19-year-old, “it’s just a matter of taking it off”, and indicates to his head after she asked him if her hijab was the reason she wasn’t allowed in.

The hijab is an item of clothing worn by some Muslim women that covers their hair.

The woman, who lives in the area, then continues to film the incident and told the security guard: “It’s not just a matter of taking it off. I wear this for religious reasons and I’m not ashamed of it, and I will stand in line and I will get the food I want, because this isn’t OK.”

A member of the public then intervenes, telling the security worker: “You can’t stop her coming in here.”

McDonald’s apologised and said the man had been suspended.

At Saturday’s demonstration, which was called by Islington Stand Up To Racism, protesters shouted: “Islamophobia, no way. Muslim people, here to stay.” They urged passers-by to boycott the fast-food chain altogether.

Holloway councillor Rakhia Ismail told the Tribune: “This is the heart of the most diverse borough in London. We have several mosques in this area. Most of the people going in there are Muslim parents and young people. Our hijab is not good enough but they are asking for our money. As much as they apologise, it was wrong in the first place and Muslims should boycott McDonald’s totally.”

She was joined by 14-year-old Highbury Grove pupil Arkan Aqiil, who was elected to Islington’s youth council last week on a platform of standing up against racism.

“We have to fight Islamophobia or it spreads like a germ,” he said.

Town Hall leader Cllr Richard Watts said he was in contact with the police about the incident.

Cllr Watts told the Tribune: “What happened is disgraceful and blatant discrimination which is utterly unacceptable. We have asked the police to investigate whether this is an offence which falls under hate crime legislation.

“We are looking at a whole lot of options at the council to hold McDonald’s to account to ensure disgraceful scenes like this are never repeated.”

In the mobile phone footage, the woman goes to the till to ask who has implemented the anti-hijab policy after being confronted by the security guard. But the person behind the till tells her to stop filming, to which she responds: “I’m so shocked right now. I’m not going to stop it, it’s my legal right to film because I’ve been living in the UK for 19 years and this is the first time I’ve faced this kind of discrimination and I’m shocked.”

She is eventually offered service by the till worker but she responds: “I don’t want anything anymore. I am pretty full to the head.”

A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: “McDonald’s has no policy which restricts or prevents anyone wearing a hijab, or any other religious attire, from entering our restaurants. We welcome customers of all faiths and sincerely apologise for this situation. We are taking this matter very seriously and are addressing the situation with the individuals involved; the security guard, from a third-party company, has been suspended.”