Kurdistan Region Asayish shut down ‘Hitler Restaurant’ until owner changes name

A source from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) told Kurdistan 24 that Nazism and racism would not be tolerated in the autonomous Kurdish region...

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdish Asayish (security) has shut down a restaurant in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province and have asked the owner to change the controversial name “Hitler Restaurant.”

A source from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) told Kurdistan 24 that “Nazism and racism would not be tolerated in the autonomous Kurdish Region, and such actions are against the law.”

“The Kurdistan Regional Government does not promote such ideology,” the source added.

The owner told local Kurdish media that the decision to name his restaurant after the German dictator, Adolf Hitler, was a marketing scheme so that customers could come to his store.

Employees began to take down the controversial signage hours after the KRG decision. 

Images of the restaurant posted to social media earlier this month sparked outrage with many criticizing the shop owner’s decision to name his store after Hitler.

Some called on the KRG to act immediately and shut the place down as it does not represent the tolerance and acceptance of which the Kurdish region is known for.

According to the Duhok Chamber of Commerce and Industry, there are no restrictions on the names people choose for their businesses.