Posted on 19/08/2009 4:16 pm

Legal advice needed for racial discrimination in discotheque

Dear all,

It's my first post here.

I am seeking for a legal advice regarding the discrimination issue I faced when I was denied entry to a discotheque in Würzburg on two separate occasions due to my brown skin color. I am male (33) and I am a student at the university.

First time, I was rejected the entrance on Saturday 8th August 2009. The doorkeepers showed hatred to me and didn't let me in without giving any reason. Later, they pretended that dress-code was an issue. But clearly it was not because I was dressing properly when compared to those who got the entry to the club. I went to Police but they didn't file my complaint regarding discrimination. Then I wrote an email to the owners of the discotheque and complained about the racial discrimination. I got a reply from the owners who apologized for the act but failed to disprove my accusation about the discrimination act. They wrote that next time they would welcome me in the club. I wrote another email to the club owners with several questions, but they didn't reply my email, yet.

I decided to give this club a second shot on last Saturday 15th August 2009, this time I wore a suit. But again I was rejected an entry because one of the staff members recognized my face from the picture I had sent along with the email I wrote to the club owners. Their behavior was utterly disrespectful. Clearly, I was again being discriminated due to my skin color while others were freely let in. The bouncers at the entrance were rude and pushed me away. It was very humiliating being singled out in the crowd. I was not drunk, I didn't shout and I was polite, but this didn't affect them. I decided to raise my voice against the discrimination in a peaceful manner.

As a protest, I stood on the road in front of the discotheque and held a sign "Say No to Discrimination". I got a fair bit of support from
the people passing by in terms of conversations, no slogans or something else. But the persons in charge of the club called the Police.

Instead of filing my complaint against the club or resolving the matter in a peaceful way, the Police took me to the police station and locked me up in the jail. After 4-5 hours, I was then released.

Now, I am seriously upset by the whole event due to several reasons. I was discriminated on racial grounds by the same discotheque on two occasions. The Police didn't file my complaint two times. My peaceful protest was disallowed and instead I was locked up in the jail for few hours as if I was a criminal.

I have checked some websites and found there are indeed some laws in Germany for discrimination issues. I have even read about a similar case in Oldenburg in 2008, where the court gave an order against a discotheque and asked its owners to pay compensation to the person who was discriminated at the entrance.

Please help me with the information about how I can proceed this case on the legal basis or please send any information that you think can be useful in this regard.

Thank you.
Peace.

Posted on 19/08/2009 6:25 pm

Re: Legal advice needed for racial discrimination in discotheque

@enigma

What nonsense!! Is there a limit you won't cross, just to get laid?

A discotheque is not a charity where every Tom, Dick and Harry can enter and try to pick-up chicks.

However, Germany is a goldmine of single-chicks. Try to change your appearance and behavior and in no time your would be upto your neck in *****.

________________________________________

Posted on 19/08/2009 7:15 pm

Re: Legal advice needed for racial discrimination in discotheque

Dear Enigma,

maybe there are some kind of 'Student Union' at your university where you can get advise. Maybe there are some others who made similar experiences with this special discotheque and you can do something together.

You should contact a lawyer and ask for the chances of filing a case.

You can also try to get in contact to a local newspaper.

It is always hard for people who do not know each other personally to give good advice. I hope you have some friends over there in Würzburg to discuss the case.

I can understand that you are angry and if I would be in your shoes I would also try to get 'Satisfaction'.

What ever you do... good luck!

Detlef

Posted on 20/08/2009 8:37 am

Re: Legal advice needed for racial discrimination in discotheque

@enigma - too bad you are not an Indian. We Indians are only good at rating and gudging other Indians.
But anyway, more power to you. Have yourself heard...

Posted on 20/08/2009 10:34 am

Re: Legal advice needed for racial discrimination in discotheque

Enigma,

I have lived in Germany for quite a while, I have a German wife and once may years ago, I faced the same problem. It was racism but well not much you can do about it, in other clubs i never experienced the same. I notice that if you go to the higher end clubs this never happens but well the more student type places it does seem to happen.
A club is a private establishment, they can regulate who they want to let in or not.

Standing on the road and creating a public disorder is not going to help, the cops took you in so that you would cool off and then let you go. Remmber if you get charged of any offence (whether you think it is deserved or not) it may affect your visa status.

There are many clubs in Germny, you will find one that is not intimdating or racially abusive and then you will enjoy it more.

I will even let you into a lil story, when this happened to me, I was mad about it too. What i did though was to pay almost 1000DM as a yearly charge and got myself a membership at a very prestigious noght club. i used to sponsor loads of guests and even had priority entry. And one day guess what i was going in when i recognised one of the bouncers, was the same guy who stopped me in the other club. I could see from his face that he was trying to place me but just couldnt. I did though and at an opportune moment when the club co owner was in earshot i discussed my "case" with him and he completely went pale when he realised who i was, I asked him point blank why he thought i was so undesirable at the other club and he swore blind that he did not know why he was just following orders. I told him that i didnt think so and that he had stopped me without even asking for instructions.
I went on to mention that i hoped he was not planning the same in this club. By this time the co-owner was all hot and bothered and kept trying to get me to go to the bar for some "free drnks"
My bar bill that night was so low inspite of champagne almost free flowing.
I never saw that bouncer again and i suspect (hope) i know why (Ahh revenge is a dish served cold and yummy, sigh... sounds like i will burn in hell again)

Your day will come even if it isnt with these guys, one day you will graduate, get a great job and drive a porsche (notice something against porsche drivers in this forum, wonder why). You will have a great life and that stupid bouncer will flit from club to club living just above the poverty line until some drunk punter puts a knife in him and ends his misery.

Germany still has a bit of racism in it, but not a lot and in terms of hot chicks and all that jazz, i am sure you will figure that all out yourself. However dont be disheatend by comments here, going to a nightlub does not mean you are in a brothel. You can do lots of fun stuff and if you want to chase a few nice girls then by all means do so. If anyone on here disapproves that's their problem. Not yours. I met someone in a nightclub and if i hadnt , my life would not be the same.

You need to let it go and concntrate on your studies, get a great job and one day follow that bouncer to the autobahn and while his old astra wheezes down the autobahn , use your shiny new sports car to run a few rings around him and then make him eat dirt as you roar away into the sunset.

Just let go of the anger, in a few days you will realise it is not worth it.

Good luck with your studies

Posted on 20/08/2009 11:30 am

Re: Legal advice needed for racial discrimination in discotheque

@lselondon

Now that is what i call a very good advice. cheers