Have you ever come across a villain who could stuff the cat back in the bag?
No, nor have we. It just makes for an angry cat.
Yet Hossein Akef, owner of Lupi Coffee and Persian Caviar, is trying to do so. There has been a lot of criticism levelled at this odious man. Akef intimidates everyone who has criticised him, exploits his workers and pays less than the statutory minimum wage. Now that the spotlight’s on him, he is trying to save what remains of his reputation – mostly bought through “pay-to-play” media – before the judge in The Hague. Now that there is so little reputation left, Akef seeks revenge, and it is Horeca United, Doorbraak, and a select few baristas and activists who have to pay for it. They have been summoned for a summary proceedings by him.
As usual, Akef is trying to smoke out the workers, journalists, union members, and activists who have dared to stand up to him. Since his cruel attempts at intimidation have failed, Akef, together with his lawyer, Baron Olivier van Hardenbroek, wants to muzzle the persons summoned and hold them responsible for every negative message that has ever appeared or will appear about him. In such a way, Akef strews about claims that could run up to a total of €250,000 (a quarter of a million euro) so, besides the enormous legal fees, he wants to saddle the persons summoned with towering debts and to limit their constitutional rights. Knowing that financial problems can always pose an issue for these people, he hopes to use this as an intimidation method.
The fact that the court even allows this case to advance to this stage is scandalous, because their demands go against our very freedom of expression, freedom of press, and freedom of assembly. This also represents union busting, seeing that he tries to frustrate the growth of Horeca United by litigating against the working class solidarity network. We hope, then, of course, that the court dismisses all of Akef’s claims.
For the abovementioned reasons, we call upon you to show solidarity with the persons summoned. We want to show Akef, as well as the Court of The Hague, as clearly as day that we refuse to be intimidated. We hope therefore to see you on 4 October at 11:00 at Prins Clauslaan 60 at The Hague. Even if you can’t be present, you can always show solidarity in other ways, be it donations, sharing our story, or boycotts.
If you have any more questions about the demonstration, make contact with Horeca United!
