Tiktoker @jay.ishhaq.rajoo calls out Ikea Alexandra for lack of halal food, and hits back at online comments calling him an “entitled Muslim”.

Tiktok user “JAY i. Independent Citizen” @jay.ishhaq.rajoo published a video that there was no “food for us Muslims” in the Ikea Alexandra. He claims that even though there’s a halal alternative at Ikea Tampines, how difficult can it be to have a halal kitchen in their Alexandra branch. He sarcastically quipped “Thank you Ikea, for being soooo understanding” while walking around the food court.

His video was shared onto Instagram @robinhoot.sg, where numerous Muslims called @jay.ishhaq.rajoo out for being self-entitled, and expecting food establishments to cater to Muslims. Others questioned his purpose for calling out Ikea, and added that even if they have dietary restrictions, they will not expect food establishments to pander to their needs.

Responding to the severe online backlash, @jay.ishhaq.rajoo published a follow up video where he asked if he was wrong to “choose to question without walking away”. He stated that it was his fault for assuming Ikea Alexandra has halal food given that the Tampines branch is halal. He questioned the lack of consistency before pondering if this is due to the high cost of halal certification. He also took offense at the users who called him an entitled Muslim, stating that it is their right to support Ikea, but it was wrong to bring in religion to the discourse.

@jay.ishhaq.rajoo may have made a mountain out of a molehill when he first published his video calling out the Alexandra Ikea branch for the lack of halal options. However, it is commendable that he took the effort to clarify his stance upon receiving severe online rebuttals for being an entitled Muslim. It is imperative that religion is not part of shared spaces in our secular society.

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