The owner of Cairo Takeaway has thanked the local community rallying behind the eatery this week after it was the target of a provocative stunt involving a man wearing a Star of David hat accompanied by a Daily Telegraph news crew.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Cairo Takeaway claimed a man had come to the restaurant and attempted to provoke restaurant staff, including asking a server, “Do you have a problem with me because I’m Jewish?”
It claimed this was part of a deliberate effort to provoke conflict, with a Daily Telegraph news crew reportedly present to capture the confrontation on film.
“It is very easy to infer that they had attended Cairo Takeaway along with the instigator in an attempt at manufacturing a story,” the restaurant claimed.
The restaurant has been met with an outpouring of support since the incident. (Source: Google Maps)
Despite the tense situation, the restaurant’s owner Hesham El Masry praised his staff for remaining calm and handling the incident professionally.
They were shaken by the incident but showed “remarkable professionalism”, he told the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday.
El Masry also stressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support received in the aftermath, noting Cairo Takeaway has been part of the Newtown community for almost a decade.
“We are immensely grateful for the thousands of messages of love, wellbeing, and compassion,” he told the publication.
“Our mission extends beyond hospitality and commerce – as global citizens we believe that our support and advocacy for the oppressed must never result in the suppression of others.
“Our values are rooted in creating a safe, respectful environment where every one of our staff, community members and customers alike are treated with respect and dignity.”
NSW Police are understood to have opened an investigation after a staff member reported she felt intimidated by the customer. The investigation concluded on Wednesday, with no criminal offences identified, as reported by the Guardian.
Since the restaurant shared the incident on its social media, there has been a wave of supportive reactions, with many praising their reaction.
“Well done, Cairo Takeaway team, for handling this awful situation so well,” one user wrote.
Others expressed shock and disappointment, condemning the actions of those involved.
“Absolutely shocking. I’m sorry the business and its employees had to go through something like this,” said another supporter.
An image of the man shared by the restaurant. PTV has chosen to blur his face. (Source: Instagram)
Many comments expressed concerns about the broader implications of the incident as Sydney continues to be rocked by community tensions and racial hatred.
“How distressing for your staff and our multicultural Australian community at large,” one person noted.
Another user added, “Please don’t judge us Jews by the actions of this clown or the Israeli government… most of us are kind, loving people who want peace.”
Cairo Takeaway has been outspoken in its support for Palestine across its social media channels. Most recently, it made a number of social media posts promoting Gadigal to Gaza, a fundraiser event for Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan.
Prior to this, the restaurant had a mural painted on its wall by a local graffiti artist to show solidarity with people in Gaza.
Responding to reports of the events that took place at Cairo Takeaway, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik described the behaviour as “reckless and irresponsible”.
“I will be following up to ensure these complaints are being taken seriously,” he said, per the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I call on anybody undertaking such reckless behaviour to stop and think about their actions.”
Lead image: Instagram
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