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Ramzan 2023: 'Indians Can't Take': Muslim Couple Stopped From Tasting Iftar at Singapore Supermarket

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Singapore Muslim Couple Stopped From Tasting Ramzan Snacks (Image posted by Farhan on Facebook)
New Delhi: As people celebrate the holy month of Ramadan across the globe, a deeply disturbing incident has come to light from Singapore, where an Indian-origin Muslim couple was stopped from tasting its complimentary snacks provided during Roza. If media reports are to be believed, the supermarket run by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) 'shooed' them away, saying that the snacks were only for Malays. The couple Jahabar Shalih (36) and his wife Farah Nadya (35) said that they were doing their usual grocery shopping with their two young children when the incident happened. While Jahabar is Indian, his wife Farah is Indian-Malay.
Taking to Facebook, Farah narrated her ordeal. "This is incredibly distasteful and we cant even express how shocked we are. My husband is Indian-Muslim and Im Malay-Indian and were both Muslims. Guess whats the best part? We were not even intending to take the free goodies but just stopped by the stand to applaud such an inclusive initiative", she said in her Facebook Post, which has garnered over 500 reactions. Read her Facebook post below:-
"INDIANS CANNOT TAKE"
Bites station' in the supermarket after his wife alerted him to the initiative.
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"I walked over just to read what was on the board because I thought it was generally a nice gesture by NTUC and it is. As I started reading it this staff from NTUC approached me and he told me 'no
India
' ... and I was like 'what'?," Jahabar said.
"He said 'No India, only Malay' and I was like 'that's strange'," he was further quoted as saying in the report.
When Jahabar asked the male employee what he meant, the man, who was not identified, only repeated that "Indians cannot take". Jahabar then tried to explain that Muslims could come from the Indian community, and the staff member replied that he has received instructions from "people at the top".
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"I just walked off, pretty frustrated, I continued shopping," he said, adding that his wife really felt that the incident should be brought up.
WHAT WAS IFTAR BITES INITIATIVE?
FairPrice Group rolled out its Iftar Bites station on March 23, offering complimentary beverages with snacks or dates at 60 of its outlets to Muslim customers during the month-long Ramzan period.
As part of the initiative, Muslim customers are given refreshments, such as canned drinks, 30 minutes before and after Iftar, and the meal taken after evening prayers during Ramzan.
These are placed on tables in the supermarkets, with a sign to Muslim shoppers to help themselves as they break their fast.
"MATTER CLOSED AMICABLY"
The FairPrice shop said it is aware of the post on social media, adding that it has engaged the couple "to address their concerns" and has closed the matter "amicably".
"We take this matter seriously and would like to apologise for the incident. We have since also counselled our employee accordingly.
"We would like to clarify that Iftar Packs are offered free of charge to all Muslim customers during the month-long Ramzan period," the supermarket was quoted as saying.
(With agency inputs)

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 1:04 pm

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