British Salon Owner Arrested for Announcing She Won't Book Any 'Muslin or Islamic Client'

A British beauty parlor owner named April Major has been arrested for a series of Facebook posts in which she announced that her fake eyelash emporium, Blinks of Bicester, would no longer book “Muslin” (yep) or “Islamic” clients. “Sorry but time to put my country first,” she wrote.

The post, as you might expect, garnered wide attention:

And, as Buzzfeed UK points out, led to an immediate influx of fake revews.

After the shit hit the social media fan, Major followed up with a second post, inviting people to come down in person and say it to her face:

I have been inundated with messages tonight as I said I would not book any muslin [sic] or Islamic client. I stand by that completely as a UK citizen. However those that want to call me a racialist. Think on. My life is with ragga and patowoire [sic— patois, maybe?] language with Trinidad has been since u was 5 growing up in Deptford. ANYONE else who wants to say something to me come to [address redacted]. Now let’s see how many back track!!!

Only the Thames Valley Police accepted her offer. They arrested and detained Major for the post, saying it was “racially abusive” and violated the section of the penal code that prohibits inciting racial hatred. From their statement:

“We have arrested a 43-year-old woman in Bicester today after a number of complaints about a racially abusive post on social media.

“The woman was arrested under section 19 of the Public Order Act which relates to the display of written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting with the intention of stirring up racial hatred, and for producing malicious communications.

Major’s beauty supplier also issued a statement Monday morning announcing they would no longer be working with her.

Blinks of Bicester’s Facebook page has been deleted, which seems like a wise if belated choice.

Image via Shutterstock