LONDON – Britain’s Sikh community has called for an investigation into allegations of “intimidation and disrespect” suffered by turban-wearing Sikhs at European airports, following complaints that they are forced to remove their turbans for security check even after they have successfully passed through scanners.
Hundreds of Sikhs held a rally outside Parliament demanding an end to “discrimination” against turban-wearing Sikhs and urging the British government to take up the issue with its European allies.
They said the turban, known as “Dastar,” was an important part of Sikh identity and its forcible removal was an “infringement” of their faith.
Similar protests were held in several other European capitals, including, Rome, Madrid and Brussels.
Rami Ranger, Chairman of the British Sikh Association, said the turban symbolised “the Sikh Gurus’ commitment to human freedom…The Sikhs with their turbans paid supreme sacrifices in both the Great Wars and changed the course of world history. It is important that in their time of need to preserve their identity, the world repays that debt to them,” he said.
The protesters alleged that turban-wearing Sikhs were being singled for extra security checks.
“Reports from across Europe indicate that our Sikh brothers are being forced to remove their turbans at airport security. This is a totally unacceptable infringement of our faith, it’s also totally unnecessary as turban is no different than any other item of clothing in relation to a metal detector or x-ray machine,” said a spokesman of the Birmingham-based Sikh Channel, which had organised the protest.
Abinash Singh from West London, describing his experience at an Italian airport recently, said such treatment was “deeply upsetting.”
Amar Deep Singh, who had travelled from Derby to join the protest, said the turban was a “religious symbol” and Sikhs were not supposed to remove it.
