Close X
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
ADVT 
International

‘I Hate Turban People’; Gunman Threatens Sikh Driver Gurjeet Singh In United States

IANS, 15 Feb, 2018 12:09 PM
    On a day 17 people were killed by an armed teen in a US school, a new case of hate crime against a Sikh man has emerged.
     
     
    According to information,  a passenger put a gun to the head of a Sikh Uber driver after demanding to know “which country do you belong to?” and telling him “I hate turban people” on Sunday, January 28th.
     
     
    Gurjeet Singh, a father and husband who wears a turban and sports a beard, has lived in Northwest Illinois for the past three years and serves as the head granthi at his local gurdwara. Gurjeet faced the assailant while driving for Uber and then notified police the next day about the assault. In the nearly three weeks since, there has not been any arrest.
     
     
    At 10:39 pm on Sunday January 28th, Mr. Singh picked up a caucasian male and female in the alley next to Casey’s Tavern in Moline, IL. Mr. Singh started driving south towards the passengers’ home when the male passenger began asking Mr. Singh questions: “What is your status here?” “Which country do you belong to?” “Do you serve our country or do you serve your country?” 
     
     
    Mr. Singh, a legal U.S. resident who speaks limited English, was confused and scared by the questions but attempted to explain that he serves both countries because his parents still live in India. 
     
     
    In response, the male passenger got visibly angry and put a gun to Mr. Singh’s head while saying, “I hate turban people; I hate beard people.” Mr. Singh slammed on the brakes and the female passenger forcibly removed the male passenger from the vehicle. She then apologized for the male passenger’s behavior, and instructed Mr. Singh to drop her home and to avoid taking the same route back to eliminate another encounter with the male attacker.
     
     
    While the Rock Island Sheriff’s Department has informed the Sikh Coalition, an organisation that defends civil rights of Sikhs in the US, that the investigation continues, charges have not yet been submitted to the Rock Island State’s Attorney’s Office.
     
     
    “The fact that no arrest has been made and hate crime charges have not yet been filed endangers the safety of Mr Singh and the Quad Cities Sikh community,” said Sikh Coalition legal director Amrith Kaur. “The facts of this case are clear. We expect the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Police Department to arrest the attacker, and the Rock Island County State’s Attorney’s Office to file hate crime charges immediately.”
     
     
     
    The hate-fueled violent threat against Mr. Singh is yet another incident in a long history of bias-based attacks against Sikhs across the country. Sikh Americans, who have been an integral part of the American fabric for 125 years, practice the fifth largest religion in the world. The articles of faith, including the beard and turban, represent equality and justice for all.
     
     
    In a statement, Gurjeet said, “This never should have happened, and I want my community and family to feel safe. There must be justice for this hate crime. Authorities should arrest and charge the man who attacked me without further delays because bigotry has no place in our society.”

    MORE International ARTICLES

    In A First, Sikh-American Gurbir S Grewal Nominated To Be New Jersey's Attorney General

    In A First, Sikh-American Gurbir S Grewal Nominated To Be New Jersey's Attorney General
    In a historic first, a distinguished Sikh public prosecutor "who has experienced hate and intolerance first-hand" has been nominated to be the next attorney general of the US state of New Jersey.

    In A First, Sikh-American Gurbir S Grewal Nominated To Be New Jersey's Attorney General

    Indians Get More British Work Visas Than Others

    Indians Get More British Work Visas Than Others
    Stating that there has been a sharp increase in the number of British visas issued to Indians, the British High Commission said on Tuesday that Indians get more work visas than all other nationalities combined.

    Indians Get More British Work Visas Than Others

    Bangladesh Police Detain Wife, In-Laws Of New York 'Attempted Suicide Bomber'

    Bangladesh Police Detain Wife, In-Laws Of New York 'Attempted Suicide Bomber'
    Bangladesh Police detained the wife and in-laws of New York's 'attempted suicide bomber' Akayed Ullah for questioning in Dhaka, the media reported.

    Bangladesh Police Detain Wife, In-Laws Of New York 'Attempted Suicide Bomber'

    India's Lakshmi Puri Among 6 Diplomats To Receive 'Power Of One' Award At UN

    India's Lakshmi Puri Among 6 Diplomats To Receive 'Power Of One' Award At UN
    The inaugural 'Power of One' award is bestowed upon exceptional people who have toiled selflessly to help form a more perfect peaceful and secure world for all of us.

    India's Lakshmi Puri Among 6 Diplomats To Receive 'Power Of One' Award At UN

    Teen Footballer Nitisha Negi's Father Seeks Sushma Swaraj's Help To Bring Back Body From Australia

    Teen Footballer Nitisha Negi's Father Seeks Sushma Swaraj's Help To Bring Back Body From Australia
    Nitisha Negi was one of the five Indian footballers who were swept away by a huge wave on Sunday when they ventured into the sea waters after the completion of the games.

    Teen Footballer Nitisha Negi's Father Seeks Sushma Swaraj's Help To Bring Back Body From Australia

    ISIS-Inspired Bangladeshi Bomber Arrested After Blast In New York Subway

    ISIS-Inspired Bangladeshi Bomber Arrested After Blast In New York Subway
    Akayed Ullah, the 27-year-old suspected bomber, had wires and a pipe bomb strapped to his body. The device prematurely exploded between two subway platforms near Port Authority, which is America's largest bus terminal, police said

    ISIS-Inspired Bangladeshi Bomber Arrested After Blast In New York Subway