4 days ago
Royal Albert Hall apologizes after couple refused entry over Palestine lapel pin
LONDON: The head of London's Royal Albert Hall has apologized to a couple who were denied entry to a concert because of the husband's Palestinian lapel pin, The Guardian reported on Friday.
Roger Cauthery, 81, and his wife Angele then stood in the foyer for 15 minutes before a supervisor — who overruled the earlier decision — arrived.
Cauthery said: 'We felt extremely upset, not to say humiliated, by their behaviour towards us. I'm a middle-class ex-public school boy brought up to believe that Brits are decent and law abiding and that one can live one's life freely.
'I was merely showing solidarity with the Palestinian people and expressing my support for what I believe, and the UN believes, is a legitimate state.
'My wife and I feel strongly that Palestine should be recognised as a state and indeed it seems that our government is finally about to do so.
'I have lived in London all my adult life and am very proud of the diversity of my city. It is tragic that this small pin badge should be seen as a threat to the Royal Albert Hall which surely should be one of the symbols of our democracy.
'The result of this incident was that we were too distressed to enjoy the concert and left at the interval.'
James Ainscough, CEO of the RAH, apologized to the couple after being contacted by The Guardian. The decision to prevent their entry 'isn't in line with our policy and was a mistake,' he said.
'As well as writing to apologise for an experience that was understandably upsetting and humiliating, we have offered a full refund and an invitation to return to the hall as our guests, so we can give the couple the warm welcome that was sadly lacking on Friday,' he added. 'We have also spoken to our contractor to ensure that a similar situation doesn't arise again.'
The cost of the refunded tickets will be donated by Cauthery to the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Ainscough hailed the move as 'laudable,' while Cauthery said he is 'very grateful' for the RAH's response to the incident.
In his letter to the couple, Ainscough said: 'Music has an enduring power to bring people together, and we want the hall to offer a warm welcome to all who come to enjoy our concerts. It is very sad to think that your experience with us on Friday was the very opposite of that.
'I do hope you will consider returning to the hall in the near future so we have an opportunity to give you the warm welcome you should expect.'
