Sikhism

Arab and South Asian Communities Fear Possible Backlash from War with Iraq

March 14, 2003

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/5387818.htm

On March 14, 2003 The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that "alarming, perhaps extreme, precautions are being suggested informally in some Arab and South Asian communities because of rising fears of further backlash in this country in the event of a U.S. war on Iraq... Trying to straddle the line between reassurance and alarm, community leaders and officials said an...

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Long Island Rail Incident Encapsulates Post 9/11 Experience for Sikh American

March 14, 2003

Source: India Abroad

On March 14, 2003 India Abroad interviewed Gurpreet Singh concerning the harassment he suffered on a New York City subway train, and the Samaritans who came to his rescue. After recounting the harassment incident, Singh said, "' Then the most amazing thing happened!' Singh recalled. 'This stranger offered me a seat and told me not to worry'... the station was approaching and Singh's savior got up to get off. He first went to the drunk and told him to stay away from Singh or to move to the next car. What no one knew at that time was that...

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Long Island Rail Incident Encapsulates Post 9/11 Experience for Sikh American

March 10, 2003

Source: Newsday

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/columnists/ny-nysub103166025mar10,0,2511202.column

On March 10, 2003 Newsday reported that "the angry Long Island Rail Road commuter tried explaining why he wanted the bearded man with a turban off the Huntington train... the officer was Stephen Hughes, 43, a captain with 22 years on the job who now works out of the Midtown North Precinct. On this Wednesday night in a...

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Update: Providence Kirpan Case Against Sher Singh: 2003

March 5, 2003

Source: The Providence Journal

[centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/5258134.htm]

On March 5, 2003 The Providence Journal reported that "in the days and months since [his arrest, Sher] Singh has found that his train ride - abruptly ending in the birthplace of Roger Williams' 'lively experiment' - has taken him to a new place in his religion and his work... Singh's arrest made him a reluctant celebrity... 'If you think you have been chosen, for whatever reason, to do God's work, then that's the way God wanted it,' he says...

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Update: Civil Suit against NYPD

March 5, 2003

Source: Newsday

On March 5, 2003 Newsday printed an editorial stating that "the sheriff of Los Angeles County, for one, would happily consider Amric Singh Rathour, or other turban-wearing Sikhs, for work as a uniformed officer. But the Queens-born Rathour has always wanted to be a traffic agent for the New York Police Department, so much so that he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the NYPD yesterday to make it happen... Officials should relax the department's uniform policy to accommodate Rathour's religious expression and save taxpayers the...

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Update: Civil Suit against NYPD

March 4, 2003

Source: The Sikh Coalition

On March 4, 2003 The Sikh Coalition reported that "The Sikh Coalition and Amric Singh (Rathour) filed a federal lawsuit challenging the New York Police Department's (NYPD) "no turban" policy. Amric Singh was terminated by the NYPD in August 2001 for refusing orders to remove his turban and trim his beard, both required by his religion... A contingent of Sikh police officers from Canada and Great Britain joined Amric Singh at the press conference. The Sikh officers stressed that the turban did not impede their ability to perform...

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Long Island Rail Incident Encapsulates Post 9/11 Experience for Sikh American

March 3, 2003

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-nysubvr3154895mar03,0,4072261.column

On March 3, 2003 Newsday reported that "standing with five or six riders on the Long Island Rail Road some nights ago, Gurpreet Singh noticed a man staring at him. 'I felt very uncomfortable,' the 24-year-old technology consultant said. 'I'm a very friendly and social guy. I walked over and said, 'Hello.' He replied by saying, 'Where you getting off?' I said, 'Syosset...

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Update: Civil Suit against NYPD

March 3, 2003

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/yahoo/nyc-turb0304,0,3984807.story

On March 3, 2003 Newsday reported that "a former traffic agent who was fired from the NYPD for refusing to remove his turban or cut his beard, tenets of his Sikh religious beliefs, will file a civil rights lawsuit Tuesday in a move that could ultimately change the traditional appearance of the nation's largest and most storied police force... The Sikh Coalition will file a federal...

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FBI Director Meets with Muslim and Sikh Leaders

February 28, 2003

Source: FBI National Press Office

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel03/mueller022803.htm

On February 28, 2003 the FBI National Press Office issued a press release stating "FBI Director Robert S. Mueller met today with key leaders of national Arab-American, Muslim, and Sikh organizations. The meeting built on earlier discussions on a number of issues -- ranging from vigilante attacks and other hate crimes to the value of continuing assistance from the Arab-...

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Court Upholds Right of Sikh Attorney to Wear Turban While Visiting Client

February 21, 2003

Source: India Abroad

On February 21, 2003 the reported that "the Federal Bureau of Prisons has upheld the right of attorney Ravinder Singh Bhalla, as a Sikh, to wear his turban while visiting his client. He would not be subjected to a search of his turban as he enters the jail. 'What I asked [from the prison authorities] wasn't anything not sanctioned by the American Constitution,' he said. 'I wanted the freedom to practice my religion like any other American.' He also added that he is not against searching a turban if the authorities had reasonable reason...

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A Sikh Boy's Experience of Being Bullied

February 21, 2003

Source: AsianWeek

On February 21, 2003 AsianWeek reported that "a cursory review of Parteek Singh’s life in America does fit the dream sequence laid out in his parents’ minds. A love for basketball, reading books, performing well in school and tight family ties made up Parteek’s seemingly happy life. The family went to community and religious events in the town of Renton, Wash., where there is a gurdwara to which Sikh Americans come from all over the state... Parteek’s internal life revealed another reality altogether. He kept a...

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Growing up Sikh in Wappinger, NY

February 20, 2003

Source: SMART

[poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/frontpage/stories/fr022003s2.shtml]

On February 20, 2003 SMART reported that "Varinder Singh Rathore said he never felt burdened by his Sikh beliefs... But there have been some awkward moments, like the times he suited up for football at John Jay High School in Wiccopee... 'I played football, went to the prom and did anything any normal kid in the mid-Hudson would do,' Rathore, 31, said. 'I think my parents had the idea that you could be a law-abiding American and still hold...

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