CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, has issued an action alert, asking “people of conscience” to demand an apology from Subway’sPresident and CEO Fred DeLuca after a muslim couple were denied service at a Shreveport, Louisiana Subway.
According to CAIR, A “63-year old New Orleans resident of South Asian heritage” and his wife stopped at a Subway restaurant in Shreveport on November 21, 2012. The couple used the restrooms, and the man exited the fast food restaurant.
When he attempted to re-enter, he was “blocked at the door by a female SUBWAY employee who allegedly asked him “Are you Muslim?” When the victim replied that he is indeed Muslim, the SUBWAY employee reportedly responded, “We can’t serve you.” The employee then went inside the restaurant and locked the door behind her.”
The man, whose name was not released but has been identified as a United States citizen, called 911. Shreveport police arrived and an officer went inside the Subway restaurant. The officer then came out to tell the victim that “the manager was “scared” of him and that he “better leave.”
CAIR also notes the man is 5'6" and weighs approximately 155 pounds. He wears an Islamic cap, called a “kufi,” and a beard for religious reasons. His wife, a teacher, wears an Islamic headscarf, or “hijab.”
Clean Plate Charlie contacted Subway headquarters in Connecticut and were told that they were aware of the action notice released by CAIR. Les Winograd, a public relations professional at the sandwich chain, said that although the company’s 38,000 stores were franchises with each store responsible for the training of their employees, the company was looking into the incident. “We take these matters very seriously and are investigating further.”
Subway’s President and CEO, Fred DeLuca, is a resident of Fort Lauderdale and is listed as having a net worth of $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.