Refugee kebab shop owner is told to stop feeding homeless people at his restaurant due to his neighbours’ concerns about ‘anti-social behaviour’
- Zuhaib Abbas Bangash owns Glen Eden Kebab shop in West Auckland, NZ
- Pakistani refugee began giving out free meals to the homeless earlier this month
- Glen Eden Business Association allegedly claimed it would threaten businesses
A refugee kebab shop owner says he has been told to stop feeding the homeless after local businesses claimed it will attract ‘anti-social behaviour’.
Zuhaib Abbas Bangash, who runs Glen Eden Kebab in west Auckland, New Zealand began giving out free meals every Sunday afternoon earlier this month, as his way of giving back to the community.
The shop owner has been dedicating one hour of his time at the restaurant, starting at 5.30pm, when he feeds those in need for free.
But despite his charitable efforts, Bangash said the move has been met with backlash by the Glen Eden Business Association, which claimed it would attract more vagrants to the area and threaten businesses.
Zuhaib Abbas Bangash, who runs Glen Eden Kebab in West Auckalnd, has been dedicating one hour a week, starting at 5.30pm, to feed those in need for free
The Pakistani refugeee said he always gave out free meals to those who asked since opening his kebab shop two years ago
‘They said they were not happy with what I was doing. They said all the homeless will come here and other businesses will go down,’ he told Stuff.
Last Sunday, Bangash shared photos of his project on Facebook, showing dozens of kebab dishes lined up and ready to be served.
‘Free food is gone to Refugee [council] who is helping homeless people. Thank God, [he has] given me opportunity to feed hungry homeless people,’ he wrote.
The weekly event had a turnout of 23 people, he said, adding that he will continue to provide free meals saying ‘I’ve already promised I would do it,’
‘They are not bad people, I know they have a bad reputation, but they just want to eat. They need food, I have food – this is $600 from my own pocket every week,’ he added.
In a statement to Stuff, the Glen Eden Business Association clarified that it aims to help the needy while also taking all members of the community into account.
Bangash moved to the New Zealand from Pakistan after seeking asylum in 2011.
The generous father said he always gave out free meals to those who asked since opening his kebab shop two years ago.
Despite his charitable efforts, Bangash said the move has been met with backlash by the Glen Eden Business Association, which claimed it would attract more vagrants to the area and threaten businesses