An incident in which a woman was barred from entering a prominent social club in the Sheikh Zayed district of Sixth of October City because she was wearing a niqab (face veil) has sparked widespread debate, raising sharp questions over the legality of internal regulations at private social and sports clubs, Cairo24 reported.
The incident unfolded when Tamer Gomaa, a resident of Sheikh Zayed’s 16th District, sent a formal inquiry to the club’s management. This followed an incident where security personnel denied entry to his wife and son, who had approached the gate to inquire about annual membership procedures and enrollment for their child. Security guards justified the refusal solely based on the wife wearing a niqab.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Gomaa wrote: “An inquiry to the club’s management in Sheikh Zayed City: I write these words as a resident of the 16th District and as a father keen on providing the best for my son. Yesterday, my wife and son went to the club to inquire about enrollment and membership procedures. To our deep regret, they were prevented from entering simply because my wife wears the niqab.”
Expressing his profound frustration, Gomaa added: “Frankly, I feel immense resentment over this situation. My wife is an Egyptian citizen, and wearing the niqab is a matter of personal freedom guaranteed by the law and the constitution. There is no legal or logical barrier preventing her from entering a sports club to submit her child’s paperwork. I am not looking to cause trouble here, but I must ask: Does the club have an internal policy that bans niqab-wearing women? If so, what is its legal or ethical basis? And how can citizens be discriminated against based on personal attire at a time when we are all striving for progress and civility?”
He concluded by urging accountability: “I hope the esteemed management of the club clarifies its stance. I also hope such actions—which tarnish the club’s image and cause unwarranted embarrassment to families wishing to subscribe and benefit from your services—will be thoroughly reviewed.”
