Close X
Sunday, November 10, 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

Donald Trump Would 'Cut Off Cash To Mexico' To Pay For Border Wall

Donald Trump Would 'Cut Off Cash To Mexico' To Pay For Border Wall
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he would cut off money sent to Mexico to force them to pay for a border wall with the US.

Donald Trump Would 'Cut Off Cash To Mexico' To Pay For Border Wall

'Panama Papers' Expose: Document Leak Exposes Global Corruption, Secrets Of The Rich

'Panama Papers' Expose: Document Leak Exposes Global Corruption, Secrets Of The Rich
The Panama Papers–the biggest leak of financial data in history–has blown the lid off offshore tax havens, again

'Panama Papers' Expose: Document Leak Exposes Global Corruption, Secrets Of The Rich

Texas Teacher Sent On Leave For Calling 12-Year-Old Muslim Student 'Terrorist'

Texas Teacher Sent On Leave For Calling 12-Year-Old Muslim Student 'Terrorist'
The staggering insult a Muslim 12-year-old says his teacher hurled at him in class - and now his family say she must be FIRED

Texas Teacher Sent On Leave For Calling 12-Year-Old Muslim Student 'Terrorist'

Like Emailing With Anne Frank: Syrians Head Online To Find Canadian Sponsors

Like Emailing With Anne Frank: Syrians Head Online To Find Canadian Sponsors
For nearly three years, his family had been in Jordan, among over half a million Syrians there crammed into apartments and camps. It was safer than sleeping in the bathtub in their house in Syria for protection from missiles, but they wanted out.

Like Emailing With Anne Frank: Syrians Head Online To Find Canadian Sponsors

Nova Scotia Premier Asks PM Trudeau For Funding For Trouble-Plagued Hospital

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's premier says he has asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for funding to replace Halifax's trouble-plagued Victoria General hospital.

Nova Scotia Premier Asks PM Trudeau For Funding For Trouble-Plagued Hospital

Modi Praises Indian Workers' Hard Work In Saudi Arabia

Modi Praises Indian Workers' Hard Work In Saudi Arabia
The large number of Indian blue collar workers in Saudi Arabia on Saturday came in for much appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the hard work they have put in for the development of the Gulf kingdom.

Modi Praises Indian Workers' Hard Work In Saudi Arabia