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| Europe |
| Pizzeria Owner Snubs Tourists, Is Jailed |
| 2005-07-13 |
| A Danish pizzeria owner was jailed Tuesday for refusing to serve French and German tourists in protesting their countries' opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. A Danish court found Aage Bjerre guilty of discrimination and fined him $900. Bjerre refused to pay, and will now serve an eight-day sentence. "I'm doing it to show my sympathy with the United States. It shows how seriously I mean it," he told The Associated Press by telephone. "But one should also remember that eight days is a small price to pay when American soldiers go to Iraq and risk their limbs and lives." In February 2003, before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Bjerre posted two signs barring Germans and French from his pizzeria on Denmark's western island of Fanoe. His refusal to serve them drew criticism in this Scandinavian country, where the government supported the war while its citizens were split. The 46-year-old received hundreds of fan letters from the United States, but had to sell the pizzeria after repeated vandalism and a large drop in sales. He is bringing a photograph of President Bush and Laura Bush, as well as an American flag, to decorate the walls of his prison cell: "I think that will brighten up the room," he said. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #8 Then we donate money for him to buy it back or build a pizza place in the states. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2005-07-13 15:57 |
| #7 If any Americans are in the area they should definately buy a pizza from this guy. Too late, he doesn't have it anymore: The 46-year-old received hundreds of fan letters from the United States, but had to sell the pizzeria after repeated vandalism and a large drop in sales. |
| Posted by: Steve 2005-07-13 13:54 |
| #6 Sounds like he doesn't want the fines paid, he wants to make a statement. Much better would be to find a way to support his store. If any Americans are in the area they should definately buy a pizza from this guy. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2005-07-13 13:22 |
| #5 No pizza for you! |
| Posted by: Pizza Nazi 2005-07-13 10:02 |
| #4 DF! Long time, no post! Welcome Home! |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-13 10:01 |
| #3 Raptor...you can make contributions: Click Here |
| Posted by: Dragon Fly 2005-07-13 09:35 |
| #2 Wonder if we can take-up a collection to pay his fines? |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-07-13 07:27 |
| #1 $900??!!!? Lol - I'd be proud to sponsor this guy in the US if he's interested. Taking a picture of Laura, too, huh? I dunno about refusing service simply based on nationality, seems way too broad of a brush, but the pix thing? Class. Lol! |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-13 02:41 |