Facebook user Abu Jalal Sarimon posted on his Facebook complaining about a belly dancing performance by a Turkish Restaurant that he found to be “revealing” at Kampong Glam.
The restaurant, Derwish Turkish Restaurant, has since responded to the netizens’ claims and explained the situation, as well as apologising.
Derwish Turkish Restaurant’s statement
Salam & Hello
TO OUR PATRONS
We write in response to a Facebook post dated 24 December 2022 by Mr Abu Jalal Sarimon regarding a belly dance at a restaurant in Bussorah Street. The comment cited disrespect to the Holy Mosque and the Muslim community.
We wish to make the following clarifications:
1) The dance was organised by a regular patron as a gesture of appreciation for a party hosted for them at our restaurant a week ago. It was not our intention to disrespect the Mosque or the Muslim community;
2) our patron who had performed had, in fact, worn a fitted skin-coloured vest that was draped on the outside in a belly-dancer costume. It would be unthinkable for us to allow a scantily-dressed dancer in front of the shops knowing our proximity to the mosque;
3) Derwish Turkish Restaurant has always had a Muslim owner. The Singaporean Non-Muslim colleague mentioned by Mr Abu Jalal is our restaurant manager of 11 years and not the owner of the business. He, at not point, claimed to be the owner of the restaurant and there was a clear misunderstanding regarding this point.
As a Muslim-owned business who has been operating a restaurant in the vicinity for many years, we unreservedly extend our sincere apologies to all Muslim patrons and the Muslim community at large should any offense be taken.
We wish to further make assurances that this will not occur again and we will do better in gauging the sensitivities to the community in the future.
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