Speaking to Kun.uz, Parviz Muhammadqulov said the incident began in late June when Goldman visited the café with his daughter. After the congressman left, an employee informed the owner about the visit and suggested refusing the gratuity. Muhammadqulov said he instructed staff to refund not only the tip but also the cost of the coffee and to ask Goldman not to return to the café.
According to the entrepreneur, the decision was driven by political disagreement rather than the congressman's religion or ethnicity.
Muhammadqulov said that after receiving the refund, Goldman publicly accused him of antisemitism and discrimination. The businessman argues that the lawmaker exaggerated the incident and used it to attract publicity ahead of the upcoming election. Several U.S. media outlets subsequently reported on the controversy, citing Goldman's accusations against the café.
"We served him. It does not matter who a person is or what religion they follow," Muhammadqulov told Kun.uz. "We disagree with our congressman because he represents the district where I live. We write letters and submit requests, but we never receive a response. We are taxpayers, yet he continues to vote in favor of aid to Israel without considering the views of many of his constituents. That is not the position of my neighbors or my community. I do not want to serve people whose actions I fundamentally disagree with."
The entrepreneur also said demonstrations were later held outside the café. In his view, the protests appeared to be organized rather than spontaneous.
"We counted around 18 people. Many of them seemed to participate in demonstrations elsewhere as well. There were actually more police officers than protesters," he said. "I have no objection to peaceful demonstrations – that is a fundamental right. But the media coverage presented only one side of the story and ignored the Jewish people inside the café who supported us."
Muhammadqulov said the controversy soon escalated beyond protests. He claims to have received nearly 100 letters, emails, and anonymous messages containing death threats directed at him and Muslims in general. Some messages threatened to kill him or blow up his car.
