In Novosibirsk, a customer at the Maria-Ra retail chain made a remark to the saleswoman about wearing a hijab in the workplace. In response, she called her a Nazi.
The “public” decided to support the customer and pasted up the store’s façade with the chain’s logo with the inscription “Follow the norms of behavior when visiting. In Russia it’s not customary to dress like that.”
In July, in the same Novosibirsk, a buyer accused a saleswoman wearing a hijab of pseudo-religion and inciting ethnic hatred. “Wearing a hijab clearly indicates a desire to stand out to an indefinite circle of people and does not mean that a person professes Islam. According to Sharia law, this woman selling alcohol and cigarettes should be stoned,” he said harshly in his review. The dissatisfied buyer also threatened the managers of the outlet with criminal liability.
Neither in the first nor in the second case was there any reaction from the authorities. At the same time, buyers demonstrated open racism and religious discrimination.
