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NRI sikh
refused to board aircraft simply because he refused unwrap his turban
- According to the FAA, anyone wearing religious headgear should
not be forced to remove it as long as they're able to pass through
screening devices.
- "If the turban did not set of the magnetometer, he should
be allowed to proceed, a spokesman from one Airline told us
- One sikh scholar said, "To take off the turban to clear
Airport security is possible but unwrap the turban is not possible
- Gurinder Singh is still in Toronto, poor guy, arranging another
flight to come back to Sacramento
Toronto, May 07, 2007, 11.35am/pacific time
NRIpress
Flight was denied by TSA (Transportation Security Administration)
Security officers because of Turban at Buffalo International Airport
on May 6, 2007
I, Gurinder Singh practice Sikhism. I was asked by TSA
officer to take off the turban and unwrap it to clear Buffalo International
Airport security check at 5.30am on May 06, 2007.
I flew from Sacramento to Buffalo on April 28, 2007 on United Airline
Flight #UA 0298 and was going to return on May 06, 2007 at 6.00
a.m. on United Airline Flight # UA 0641 from Buffalo to Sacramento
via Chicago.
It was around 5.30 a.m. Security check was very smooth and Security
Alarm did not go off but still TSA Lady Security Officer asked the
other TSA Security Officer to check my Headgear. The officer asked
the other officer if Security Alarm went off and she said no but
I am concerned about his Headgear. Then he asked me to take off
my turban and unwrap it. I explained that it is my religious symbol
and I can not unwrap because of my religious belief. There was Sikh
Boy behind me who was clean shaven explained the officer that this
is his religious symbol and he can not let him unwrap it. He also
told the officer that he himself is in US Army. The security officer
did not listened to him and rather warned him not to interfere in
this matter. I asked him that I want to see your supervisor. He
called his supervisor Mr. Charles Batch # 41971. He came and I requested
him to let me go without unwrap the turban but he denied the clearance
without taking it off and unwrap it. He offered to get it done in
private room but I insisted not to take it off and not to unwrap
it. Then he called the Airport Police. Two police officers immediately
came and asked me either take off and unwrap the turban or leave
the premises. They threatened to arrest me; I choose to leave the
premises and came back to United Air Line’s Ticket counter
to get my luggage back which I checked-in. The employee at the United
Air Line counter told me that the luggage is already gone.
It was still early morning and I was sitting right by the Air Line
Counter, the same police officer came long with another police officer
Mr. Loubert batch #113 and told me that he can give me second chance
to let me through if alarm will not go off. But the second condition
was that if security alarm will go off, then he will then detain
me and I accepted that. Then I told him that alarm did not go off
even at fist time either and it has been admitted by the TSA supervisor
Mr. Charles as well. He said it could be misunderstanding and they
will let me go this time; if there will be no beep or if alarm will
not go off.
Then at Officer Loubert’s assurance, United Airline again
issued me boarding pass for next flight #UA 379 for 7.47 a.m. from
Buffalo to Sacramento via Chicago.
I cleared the security check in front of Police officer Loubert
and again there was no security beep at all. But TSA security officer
still was not satisfied and wanted to check my turban and took me
to the private room. He taped my turban and again told me to take
off my turban and unwrap it. I refused to do that. Then by this
time there were more than 5 police officers. Police Officer Loubert
along with other police officers ordered me leave the premises immediately.
In the mean time a representative from United Airline came and informed
me that my luggage is already gone and advised me to have some one
pick it up from Sacramento airport.
When the police was escorting me to bring me out, I saw Bhupinder
Singh Bajwa who is resident of Toronto, Canada, and I made him aware
of this episode. He requested the police officer to have their Police
chief to talk to. With his request Lieutenant Burgio Batch # 10
came and he also invited TSA Supervisor Mr. Charles along with him.
But Supervisor Charles said at point blank that he will not let
him fly without taking off and unwrap the turban. In the mean time
Mohinder Singh Dhillon, who is also Toronto, Canada resident, came
there and inquired about this. Police at first started yelling at
him and warned him but later on listened to him. At this point there
came another Security person in plain dress and told us to leave
the premises immediately and he said that at this point he will
not let me fly at all and rather he will order to arrest if we do
not leave the airport. I was so frustrated at this. I requested
Mr. Bajwa to give a ride to Toronto so that I could fly from Toronto
to Sacramento.
I felt so humiliated and frustrated. I have been permanent resident
of US and living in USA since June, 1996. It had never happened
to me in the previous. I always felt proud to be an American till
today. I am in Real Estate Business and deal with public all the
time. I do not know and could not understand why it happened.
I request all of the Sikh organizations, government bodies, US senators,
Canadian MPs, department of homeland security and human right organizations
to make awareness to TSA regarding the Religious Symbol Turban and
its respect and take appropriate action so the this thing does not
arise again against minorities.
I am sending to all most all the organizations.
Victim of TSA Security
Gurinder Singh
NOW Question arises:
- Is civil rights have been violated?
- Is security people don't know their responsibilities, don't
know instructions / guidelines and also may be some of them are
indulging, perhaps unwittingly, into discrimination based on race
and religious outlook of the person?
- Is sikh person have to take off his turban in Air port security
when he is ordered by TSA?
- Is sikh person have to take off the the turban and then ordered
to unwrap it to clear Airport security?
Reader's OPINIONS
Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
() on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 05:25:30
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name_First112206: Baljinder Singh
LAST: Rathour
City, Country: London UK
EMAIL: bsrathour28@yahoo.com
Telephone: 0044-7931242466
Name of this Article: Turban
Add your (cut & paste) opinions/ comments/: Deg Teg Fateh,
With regard to the topic of asking to remove or unwrap turban of
S. Gurinder Singh at airport security checks, even if the alaram
doesn't went on, let me educate TSA, can you please ask the passengers
to take off their clothes because any thing can be hidden into any
part of your garments, even if the alarm doesn't goes on. Covering
the body is Humanbeing's self respect & covering the head with
a turban is the selfrespect of a Sikh & no one is allowed to
interfere with the personal & especially relegious beleifs.
It is an appeal to every person of any origin or nation of the world
who is aware of the turban to please educate the respect of turban
to the people around them.
Listen me live on air on every friday 8pm to 10pm (UK time), log
on to www.desiradio.org.uk
Thanks
Baljinder Singh Rathour
Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
() on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 13:30:47
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name_First112206: Marcello
LAST: Tagliente
City, Country: USA
EMAIL: mabri@verizon.net
Name of this Article: Gurrinder Singh
Add your (cut & paste) opinions/ comments/: This is a very
bad news for religious liberty in USA, the land of the braves and
the free.
I understand the need of security and safety, but this episode
looks like a persecution done to one person ONLY because he is wearing
a religious simbol, which does not even hide the face of the person
wearing it.
This must be corrected and some training should be given to the
TSA employees to reconize and respect ALL religious beliefs.
Marcello
Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
() on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 18:46:12
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name_First112206: inderjeet
LAST: singh
City, Country: Haryana, India
EMAIL: isgehlot2000@yahoo.co.in
Telephone: 0130-2243662
Name of this Article: Stop humiliation of religious practices
Add your (cut & paste) opinions/ comments/:
I have great sympathy for the sikh gentleman, who was not allowed
to board plane without unrapping the turban. Although, I am not
a sikh but interfering with someone's religious practices is bad.
I have high regards for Pope. But I will ask TSA security people,
will they ever force Pope to remove his hat while boarding plane.
Sikh gentleman was kind enough to allow security people to remove
turban instead of unrapping. There was no reason to unrap turban
because alarm did not went off while passing through the security
gate. Humiliation of religious practices should be critisized heavily.
In the end, I would say people of indian origin world wide should
act together to stop humiliation of our people.Religious practices
of all the religions must be respected.
Regards,
Inder
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