High street retailer Currys has axed staff name badges featuring the Palestinian flag after complaints they created an ‘intimidating’ environment for Jewish customers.
The badges were introduced as a way of denoting certain staff members could speak Arabic, in line with the retailer’s inclusion policies.
But following several complaints, Currys has ‘discontinued’ the flags on name badges and said it would explore alternatives.
In one instance, an Israeli man who visited a store in Cambridge to buy a television set said he was approached by a staff member with the flag on his badge.
He claimed to apologise and tell the assistant it was ‘not personal’, but he felt uncomfortable.
‘It’s hard for me because of the flag,’ he said.
A second employee offered assistance, but was told by a manager not to serve him because ‘he was rude.’
As a result he had to leave the store and purchase a £1,500 television elsewhere.
High street retailer Currys has axed staff name badges featuring the Palestinian flag after complaints they created an ‘intimidating’ environment for Jewish customers
The man told advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) that the incident left him feeling ‘insecure and unwelcome’, adding: ‘I felt that my right to professional and unbiased treatment was compromised.’
In a second incident, a Jewish customer complained he was rebuked by staff after saying he felt ‘uncomfortable’ being served by an assistant wearing the Palestinian flag.
After taking a photograph of the assistant in question, the man claimed he was ‘ejected’ from the store in Hemel Hempstead.
He added that the staff member followed him out to the car park and then took photographs of his family, their car and the registration number.
Currys has claimed the sales assistant acted in this way following an offensive gesture made by the customer.
The man said he was left shocked by the incident and said: ‘The badge made me feel uncomfortable because it was unnecessary and was clearly there to make a political statement.
‘It was the treatment after that which shocked my children and I.
‘We were effectively refused service because we were Jewish. I never expected to be treated that way in Britain.’
Advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel highlighted to the retailer that the Palestinian flag has political connotations and has been used to denote opposition to the state of Israel. Pictured: Pro-Palestinian protesters in London in November
In a letter to Currys, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which is representing both customers, highlighted that the flag has political connotations and has been used to signal support for the Palestinian cause.
It has also been used as a way of denoting opposition to the state of Israel.
UKLFI went on to claim that allowing staff members to display the flags could be a breach of the Equalities Act 2000, as it could lead to the creation of ‘a hostile and intimidating atmosphere’ for Jewish and Israeli customers.
It suggested that rather than displaying a flag, Currys could simply have staff badges stating, ‘I speak Arabic’.
In response to UKLFI’s letter, Currys told The Telegraph the use of flags on name badges had been discontinued, adding: ‘We are sorry to learn of two instances of customers feeling unwelcome in our stores because of flags displayed on colleague name badges.
‘As part of our commitment to inclusion for both our customers and colleagues, these badges have included world flags to signal languages spoken.
‘We remain committed to an inclusive Currys where everyone feels welcome.’
MailOnline has contacted Currys for comment.
