IKEA sorry for Down’s discrimination

A young Icelandic boy with Down syndrome who was refused entry into an IKEA play area in Turkey because of his condition will now be allowed to play with his siblings and other children.

Sig­ur­björg Hjör­leifs­dótt­ir recently moved to the Turkish capital of Ankara with her husband and three children. On a recent visit to the Ankara branch of the Swedish furniture retailer, staff were reluctant to allow Viktor play in IKEA’s Små­land play area.

Various excuses

Hjör­leifs­dótt­ir was first told that Viktor was too small, despite being clearly over the minimum height.

She was then told that Viktor had “problems” and that staff were worried that other children might hurt Viktor while playing.

Finally, she was informed of the store’s decision that Viktor would not be allowed to play in Små­land on weekends.

This distressing experience was compounded by having to explain to Viktor that he could not play and to his siblings that they could not play because of the IKEA decision regarding their brother.

IKEA apologises and welcomes Viktor

“I expected more of a large international chain such as IKEA,” says Hjör­leifs­dótt­ir, who was apparently “shaking with rage” at the time of the incident.

Within two days, however, the family received a phone call, e-mail and visit from an IKEA representative apologising for the incident. IKEA has told the family in no uncertain terms that this will not happen again and that Viktor is welcome to play in Små­land.

IKEA has officially apologised for the incident. Photo: AFP