Nadja Stenroth files police report after being denied service at Kotipizza in Seinäjoki

Yle reported on Saturday about Nadja Stenroth, who and her five-year-old son were turned away at a Kotipizza restaurant in Seinäjoki. The staff stated, “We do not serve those in national costumes.” Stenroth shared her experience on social media, which prompted an apology from the restaurant chain. However, she has since filed a police report regarding the incident.

Kristina Stenman, the equality ombudsman, interpreted the situation as clear discrimination, noting that her office receives numerous complaints of discrimination against Roma individuals annually.

Yle plans to follow up on the incident and is inviting Roma individuals to share their experiences of discrimination in shops, restaurants, or other public spaces over the past year through a web form. The focus is on gathering real-life accounts to shed light on the broader issue of discrimination faced by the Roma community.

Responses to this online survey will be handled solely by Yle journalists, ensuring confidentiality; no information will be shared with outside parties. Answers may be published online, on radio, and television, but personal identities will remain protected unless explicit consent is given.

Participants are required to provide their names and contact details, which will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Yle journalists may reach out to verify submissions and follow up with questions.

The survey queries whether respondents have been refused service due to their Roma background, with options ranging from a single occurrence to multiple instances, along with open-ended spaces for sharing personal experiences, locations, and impacts of such experiences.