Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
International

Sikh-American Teenage Author Forced To Remove His Turban At US Airport

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Apr, 2016 09:53 AM
  • Sikh-American Teenage Author Forced To Remove His Turban At US Airport
A Sikh-American teenager who authored a book about bullying that the community faces in the US was forced to remove his turban at the Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California, a media report has said.
 
Karanveer Singh Pannu was heading for the annual Sikh Youth Symposium - a public speaking competition held in Bakersfield but was forced to remove his turban by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel, NBC News reported this week.
 
"I had gone to talk about my book as an inspirational speaker to address all the kids participating in the annual Sikh Youth Symposium," Pannu was quoted as saying. 
 
According to him, after going through the metal detector at the airport, he was asked to do a self-pat down of his turban and a chemical swab test for explosive material. 
 
 
After a positive swab test, he was taken to a secondary screening room to be given a full pat down and was asked to remove his turban to be further scanned, the report added.
 
"I refused at first but when they threatened me that I could not fly, I agreed, provided they gave me a mirror to retie my turban," said Pannu who wrote the book titled "Bullying of Sikh American Children: Through the Eyes of a Sikh American High School Student." 
 
"Before I removed my turban, Agent Hernandez asked the dreaded asinine question, 'Is there anything we need to be aware of before you remove your turban?' I politely answered that there is a lot of long hair and something called the brain underneath," he was quoted as saying in the report.
 
 
Meanwhile, the TSA declined to comment on the specifics of any individual passenger's screening experience.
 
They said officers offer a private room whenever additional screening requires the removal of religious apparel.
 
Pannu, however, said he felt "utterly humiliated, shaken, distraught" by the experience.
 
In 2007, the TSA revised its screening procedures for head coverings based on discussions with the Sikh community.

MORE International ARTICLES

Stolen Ancient Jain, Hindu Statues Worth $450,000 Seized In USA

Stolen Ancient Jain, Hindu Statues Worth $450,000 Seized In USA
The statues seized Friday by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in "Operation Hidden Idol" were of Rishabhanata, the first Jain Thirthankar, and of Revanta, a son of God Surya

Stolen Ancient Jain, Hindu Statues Worth $450,000 Seized In USA

Donald Trump Calls Off Rally Due To Security Concerns

Donald Trump Calls Off Rally Due To Security Concerns
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cancelled one of his signature rallies on Friday, calling off the event due to safety concerns after protesters packed the arena where he was scheduled to speak.

Donald Trump Calls Off Rally Due To Security Concerns

Family Of Teacher Jailed In Indonesia Says Federal Officials Taking Case Seriously

Family Of Teacher Jailed In Indonesia Says Federal Officials Taking Case Seriously
Last month Indonesia's high court overturned Neil Bantleman's acquittal of charges of sexually abusing children and he was put back in prison.

Family Of Teacher Jailed In Indonesia Says Federal Officials Taking Case Seriously

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, Michelle Obama Team Up To Promote Education For Women, Girls

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, Michelle Obama Team Up To Promote Education For Women, Girls
 The meeting of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama wasn't the only mutual admiration society on display Thursday in Washington.

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, Michelle Obama Team Up To Promote Education For Women, Girls

Dubai Official Warns Of 'Clash Of Civilizations' Over Donald Trump

Trump said he wouldn't stoop to being "politically correct" by avoiding such statements.

Dubai Official Warns Of 'Clash Of Civilizations' Over Donald Trump

Two Canadian Hostages In The Philippines Shown In New Islamic Extremists Video

Two Canadian Hostages In The Philippines Shown In New Islamic Extremists Video
Robert Hall and John Ridsdel — along with a Norwegian man and a Filipino woman — were kidnapped from a resort by members of Abu Sayyaf

Two Canadian Hostages In The Philippines Shown In New Islamic Extremists Video