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ROME, Italy (August 7, 2013)Bhai Manjit Singh GK, President of Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee was asked to remove his turban at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Bhai Manjit Singh was in Italy to promote awareness of the Sikh identity and help resolve turban and identity related issues Italian Sikhs had been facing there. Sikh24 has learned that along with Bhai Manjit Singh GK, four of his associates on board an Emirates airlines flight to Dubai were refused security clearance by Italian security. Such issues have become common in Italy where Sikh passengers are humiliated by the airport security services. As per the latest reports, Bhai Manjit Singh GK refused to remove his turban. Sikhs in large numbers have reached the Rome airport to protest the disgraceful incident. Sikhs have also protested in New Delhi. Other Sikhs accompanying Manjit Singh GK are said to be Paramjit Singh Rana, Gurvinderpal Singh, Puneet Singh Chandhok and Gurbachan Singh Cheema. In a statement, Bhai Manjit Singh GK said, for last almost 24 hours we are on airport and will try to take flight on Wednesday night but we will not take off our turbans. He further alleged that representatives of 40 Gurdwaras in Italy have approached the airport administration. Removal of the turbanespecially forced removalin public is considered blasphemous and the team with Manjit Singh GK refused to do so. They asked the security team to manually check the turbans using metal detectors but the airport security was adamant in asking the Sikhs to remove their dastars. The Ambassador of India in Rome is said to be monitoring the situation and despite the efforts by the Indian Embassy in Rome, the airport administration has denied permission to Bhai GK and his associates to board their flight. http://www.sikh24.com/2013/08/breaking-delhi-sikh-leader-asked-to-remove-turban-at-italy-airport/#.UgKGrpK1GmA AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar has condemned the incident of asking a Sikh delegation of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to take off their turbans at Rome airport. While talking to media persons on Wednesday Makkar said that DSGMC's delegation led by its president Manjit Singh GK had gone to Italy to attend a function on the awareness of Sikh's turban. "It is very unfortunate that the delegates were asked to remove turban on the name of security checking" said he. He said the SGPC would take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides with the representatives of European Union. "Sikhs have made major contribution in the development of Italy , so their government should't hurt their religious feelings" said Makkar http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SGPC-condemns-the-Italy-airport-incident/articleshow/21686438.cms