The Nicefoods restaurants company, which operates the McDonald’s fast food chain in Serbia, must pay a fine for not letting Romani children into one of its restaurants. The Serbian press agency, Tanjug, reports that a court in Novi Sad handed down the decision last week.
The firm must pay 100 000 Serbian dinars (EUR 867). The verdict has yet to take effect.
"Nicefoods restaurants respects this decision… but will take advantage of its right to appeal," the company said in a statement. The firm rejects all of the charges.
The incident occurred on 10 July 2012 when security guards at a McDonald’s restaurant are said to have forbidden several Romani children from entering. In addition to the fine for the company itself, the boss of the firm, Tomaš Rogač, must pay an additional statutory penalty.
The court has fined Rogač 20 000 Serbian dinars (EUR 173). The judge said the case was a clear violation of the law banning discrimination.
Romani activist Vitomir Mihajlović welcomed the verdict. "The court decision is very important because it is the first verdict related to the anti-discrimination law that was adopted in August 2009," he said.
