News

Danish pizza operator to serve eight days for discrimination

August 20, 2003

COPENHAGEN, Denmark --A court in western Denmark on Wednesday upheld a sentence against a Danish pizzeria owner who had refused to serve French and German tourists because their governments opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

According to the Associated Press, Denmark's Western High Court upheld a lower court ruling issued two months ago ordering Aage Bjerre to pay a $780 fine or serve an eight-day prison sentence.

"I will not pay the fine, but I'll do the time instead," Bjerre said. "It's a matter of principle."

Bjerre refused to sell pizza to German and French tourists, whom he called "anti-American." Bjerre was fined for his actions, appealed to the Western High Court, but lost.

Bjerre said he lost at least $7,800 because of a drop in business and from vandalism to his shop on Fanoe island in western Denmark. He has received about 300 letters of support from around the world.

Earlier this month, Bjerre sold his pizzeria because police threatened to seize his restaurant permit if the ruling was upheld. But he vowed to pursue his pro-American crusade by selling frozen pizzas on the Internet.

"My home page will say clearly: No pizzas to the Germans or the French," Bjerre said.