5:56pm UK, Monday April 25, 2005

A Swedish restaurant has been fined for kicking out a lesbian couple.

Manager Aziz Cakir had asked the pair to leave after they were spotted canoodling.

He denied the eaterie was discrmininating against gays or lesbians and insisted he would have asked anyone who was kissing on his premisis to leave.

His position was backed by Stockholm District Court but was overturned by the Court of Appeals after the ruling was challenged by the organisation HomO.

The Court of Appeals ruled that Cakir was guilty of sexual discrimination and fined him £3,700.

HomO director Hans Ytterberg said: "The Court of Appeals has made it clear that discriminating on grounds of sexual orientation is a serious violation of people's rights and can cost you dearly.

"This will hopefully function as an effective deterrent."