LOC11:09
08:09 GMT
LONDON, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- Thousands of Sikhs were gathering in London
Sunday to protest against harassment they say they experience at European
airports, the organisers said.
The demonstration, in Parliament Square at noon, will be held
simultaneously with others in four other capitals to protest against what
Sikhs describe as intimidation and disrespect of their faith at European
airports.
They say in recent months there have been growing problems at airports for
Sikhs travelling from the UK being asked to remove their turbans despite
successfully passing through security scanners.
The campaign is being coordinated by the Sikh Channel, a cable TV station
based in Birmingham and London which broadcasts to an international audience.
Abinash Singh and his wife Balraj, from Hayes, west London, recently
appeared on the channel describing their experience at an Italian airport
where officials forced the removal of his turban.
Singh said "After the contribution of the Sikhs in the world wars, after
the positive contribution made to European society by Sikhs, this treatment is
deeply upsetting."
Today's demonstration - in line with similar protests in Brussels, Rome and
Madrid which will be connected by a live link and shown on big screens - is
expected to be attended by community leaders and Sikh celebrities.
The group argues that there is no justified security reason for removal of
turbans which have successfully passed through scanners.
It is calling on national governments in Europe to investigate the
treatment of Sikhs at airports and make representations to their European
partners where Sikhs are found to be abused.
A spokesman for the Sikh Channel said "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."
For her part, Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers said: "I fully recognise
the cultural and religious sensitivities surrounding the touching of a Sikh's
turban, which is why this Government acted swiftly when the Sikh community
expressed concern about new EU rules on the searching of turbans at airports.
"We engaged with community leaders and obtained permission from the
European Commission to run a trial that is now under way at a number of UK
airports.
"This trial aims to establish whether security standards can be maintained
in respect of the screening of religious headwear without the need for a hand
search.
"I have also written to ministers across Europe with responsibility for
aviation security to explain this trial and to underline the importance the UK
attaches to resolving this issue." (end)
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