Kerry Offends Sikhs With Comments on Violence

February 6, 2004

Source: Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/2004/Feb/06/181_562482,00050001.htm

On February 6, 2004 Hindustan Times reported, "Sikh organisations in the US have taken strong exception to reported remarks of current democratic frontrunner in the US presidential race Senator John Kerry, for what they called, "singling out adherents of Sikh religion as terrorists" and demanded an apology from him. The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) quoted Kerry as saying during his campaign in Oklahoma City on January 31 that terrorism did not begin on September 11, 2001 and going on to give examples of the Northern Ireland, the Basque separatists in Spain and the Sikhs in India. In a letter to Kerry, SMART said that he did not mention any religion other than Sikhs. 'Based on your response, which was broadcast on C-SPAN and other news outlets, all adherents of the Sikh faith can be interpreted as condoning or being associated with terrorism,' the letter said."