Moroccan woman threatened with death over wine bar

The Moroccan entrepreneur Elou Akhiat (40) is being threatened with death because she opened a wine bar in Rotterdam this weekend. Akhiat is from a strict islamic family. Her father is an Imam. After an arranged marriage with a cousin went wrong, she decided to change course. Since then, Akhiat has been a passionate entrepreneur.

She fulfilled a dream by opening her own wine bar, but the death threats she has received have put a damper on her initial excitement. "I want to be who I am" she tells Metro. "I also teach my children that they should be someone rather than no-one. The opening of a wine bar may go against the islamic culture I grew up with, but it feels good. I want to do what I want, am different and independent." The police is keeping a close eye on Akhiat's case. Mayor Aboutaleb communicates via a spokesperson that he finds it difficult to understand that people can send such threats.