Sikh Federation (Uk) Launch Urgent Campaign For Respect For Dastaar At European Airports

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SPECIAL 30-MINUTE REPORT ALSO WENT OUT ON THE SIKH CHANNEL AT 8PM LAST NIGHT

Following letter was emailed to all 650 MPs last night

Sikh Lobby Planned for Wednesday 30 June Postponed

Thank you for helping the Sikh community on the issue of respect for the Sikh turban at UK airports.

Many MPs took up the matter with the Secretary of State on behalf of Sikh constituents.

The attached letter was sent by Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP to the Sikh Federation (UK) at around 5pm today.

We have yet to receive details of the meeting planned by staff at the Department of Transport tomorrow, but though it best to postpone the lobby and meeting planned in the Boothroyd Room between 3.00-4.30pm depending on the outcome of the meeting and the likely timetable for action.

The matter is far from resolved. The letter makes no reference to the new Regulation and the Kirpan and means the Sikh turban will continue to be disrespected in mainland Europe. These issues will be raised by the Sikh Federation (UK) at the meeting tomorrow.

Bhai Amrik Singh

Chair, Sikh Federation (UK)

[Into the Light]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8776146.stm

The Department for Transport has delayed plans to bring in hand searches at UK airport security because of concerns from a Sikh group.

Sikhs are concerned it could mean hand checks of turbans or demands for the religious headwear to be removed.

The changes have already been implemented across the EU.

But a DfT spokesman said: "We have written to airports to advise them to continue using the previous methods of screening religious headwear."

She added: "These methods do not require all headgear to be touched.

"We will then work with the airport industry and religious communities to find an acceptable long-term solution to this issue."

At present, passengers walk through metal detectors at UK airports and, if the alarm goes off, they are then searched again with handheld metal detectors.

The new EU rules instead tell security staff to use their hands for the second checks.

It just felt as if we were treated as criminals and branded as potential terrorists just because we were wearing a turban

Vinder Singh

Sikhs believe the prospect of having their turbans checked by hand or removed in public is degrading.

Vinder Singh, a 41-year-old medical rep from Dudley in the West Midlands, fell foul of the new rules when travelling in Spain.

Even though he had not set off the alarm when passing through a metal detector at Barcelona airport, he was told to take his turban off in front of his work colleagues and other passengers.

"I allowed him to touch my turban, feel it and check it and yet he (security guard) wasn't satisfied." Vinder Singh said.

"I wasn't prepared to do anything further because he was still insisting that he wanted me to take my turban off and that, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to fly."

Eventually, he and three other Sikh colleagues made their own way home to England by train.

"It just felt as if we were treated as criminals and branded as potential terrorists just because of the fact that we were wearing a turban," he added.

'Considered a crown'

The Sikh Federation is worried that the new EU security rules will mean more embarrassment and upset at airports.

"It is disrespectful for anyone else to touch the turban other than the individual (wearer) themselves," said Dabinderjit Singh of the Sikh Federation.

"It is almost a humiliation. It is very difficult to describe when someone touches your turban. Sikhs regard it as a crown."

Wearing a turban is protected by British law. This follows a landmark ruling by the House of Lords in 1983 in a case in which a Birmingham teenager was refused entry to a school because of his turban.

The Department for Transport is in discussion with Sikhs to see if they can try to resolve the issue, with the first meeting taking place in central London today.

But the problem for Sikhs is that the EU rarely changes its regulations and, when it does, it can often take years.

In the meantime, Sikhs are bracing themselves for further problems.

"The reports that we've had from France and Italy in the last few weeks is that Sikhs are being asked to remove their turbans," added Dabinderjit Singh.

"That's the equivalent of having a strip search but having it in public."

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

BBCi Player

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00sx156

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

BBC Asian Network Nihal show:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00sx16h

[SikhRoots]

Respect to Sikh Federation for highlighting this issue and actually doing something about it. I think UK Sikhs in particular should be very thankful for the work you guys have been doing for so many years. Many thanks from me anyway because personally, I travel a lot and it would have been a problem for me to allow them to search my dastaar using their hands. Very grateful.

[bhai sahib ji]

This is very good news in-deed.

Can I please suggest that those who wrote to their MPs send up a follow up letter.

I emailed the below this morning, if others want to cut and paste it:

As you will be aware due to the Secretary of State for Transport having delayed the implementation of hand searching the Dastaar in UK airports, the lobby arranged yesterday was postponed at the the last minute.

I am very encouraged that Rt Hon Phillip Hammond MP and his ministers are going to work with Sikh organizations to arrive at a fairer outcome, however I would be grateful for your continual lobbying of the Secretary of State for Transport plus the raising of appropriate questions in the House to ensure that this matter remains as a high priority item on the coalition Governments agenda. I would also be grateful if you could raise this matter with your colleagues who are MEPs to ensure that our concerns are also aired in Europe.

Kind regards

[Into the Light]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1291119/U-turn-humiliating-turban-airport-security-searches-sikhs.html?ITO=1490

U-turn on 'humiliating' turban airport security searches for sikhs

Sikhs travelling through Britain's aiports will no longer undergo 'humiliating' searches of their turbans following fierce criticism of the policy.

Just two months ago security staff were told they could pat down and unravel a sikh's turban if the metal detector bleeped as they walked through.

But these powers - given under European legislation - were branded as unaccpetable by the religion's leaders in Britain and the Department of Transport has had to act quickly.

'It is considered very offensive to remove or touch a Sikh's turban, especially in public,' said Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, advisor to the Commission for Racial Equality.

'It's the equivalent of asking someone to undergo a strip search in public in western culture.

'Different things are considered insulting in different cultures - there are different ways of upsetting people, and we should try to keep that to a minimum.'

A spokesperson for Birmingham International Airport said: 'On Thursday the Department for Transport advised all UK airports to continue using the previous methods of screening religious headwear, which eliminates the need to carry out hand searches. We have reacted accordingly.'

Sikhs who set off alarms at airport body scanners will now have their turban scanned by a hand held wand, and will only be subjected to searches by hand if metal is detected in the turban.

Harmander Singh, Principal Advisor to Sikhs in England, added that the security measures were 'ludicrous'.

He said: 'Sikhs are being unfairly targeted. As far as I'm aware, there haven't been any exploding turbans at airports yet. Just because Osama Bin Laden chooses to wear one doesn't mean that Sikhs should have to suffer.'

The turban is worn by all Sikhs and is a key symbol of their faith, which shares some values of Hinduism and Islam.

Dr Singh conceded that searches at airports are a vital security precaution, but said: 'Security staff at airports must understand the particular significance of touching the turban.

'Sikhs do live in the real world, but we don't want to be subjected to constant searches at airports.'

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: 'We will work with the airport industry and religious communities to find an acceptable long-term solution to this issue.'

Respect to Sikh Federation for highlighting this issue and actually doing something about it. I think UK Sikhs in particular should be very thankful for the work you guys have been doing for so many years. Many thanks from me anyway because personally, I travel a lot and it would have been a problem for me to allow them to search my dastaar using their hands. Very grateful.

i second that!

Good Work Sikh Federation (UK)..i know it may feel that your work goes unnoticed, but rest assured it doesn't and we are very thankful for all your hard work!

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKHS MOVE CLOSER TO AGREEMENT ON AIRPORT SECURITY PROCEDURES THAT WILL FULLY RESPECT THE SIKH TURBAN

Thursday 1 July 2010

In an unprecedented move the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Philip Hammond, moved quickly on Tuesday 29 June to issue directions to all UK airports to apply the pre-29 April procedure for Sikh turbans that prevents security staff from touching the turban. They have been directed to only use hand held metal detectors for Sikh passengers and Sikhs working at the airports until a solution can be found working with the Sikh community.

Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), said: ‘The campaign launched less than 2 weeks ago has shown what Sikhs are capable of doing when they come together and our media, such as the Sikh Channel, encourage Sikhs up and down the country to exert pressure on MPs. For the Secretary of State to issue a directive to all UK airports on the eve of what was predicted to be a massive Sikh lobby that may have attracted around 1,000 Sikhs to the Houses of Parliament shows the power of lobbying.’

The Sikh Federation (UK) received a letter from the Secretary of State at around 5pm on Tuesday 29 June and the first sentence and last sentence of the letter make it abundantly clear that what made the UK Government change its mind were letters to MPs and the pressure on the Department for Transport. This was acknowledged yesterday by officials from the Department at a meeting to find a solution to the complication caused for Sikhs by the new EU Regulation on aviation security. The Ministerial decision resulted in the mass Sikh lobby being postponed at the last minute to allow time for the Department to find a long term solution not only at UK airports, but also across the EU.

The letter from the Minister to the Sikh Federation (UK) dated Tuesday 29 June starts with: ‘Thank you for your note yesterday and your subsequent email last night’. There was also pressure from Federation media contacts, including the BBC and other mainstream media outlets, who contacted the Department about the lobby and issues raised by MPs. The pressure came to a peak on Monday that resulted in a change of direction. The last sentence of the letter from the Minister to the Federation states: ‘On this basis, I hope that you will no longer feel the need to pursue the lobby you have planned for tomorrow afternoon in Parliament.’

This contrasts with the very negative e-mail response from a Department for Transport official received last week by Dr Jasdev Singh Rai, one of the two faith advisers to the UK Government, that he shared with a select group at the weekend. If you compare this email with the response from the Secretary of State on Tuesday you can see why it has been referred to by the media as a U-turn by the Department following considerable political pressure.

Yesterday the first meeting was held with Department for Transport officials that was positive and moved both parties closer to agreement on airport security procedures that will fully respect the Sikh turban. This demonstrates that had the Department consulted when the EU Regulation was being developed and also when considering implementation this situation could have been avoided. The two Sikh faith advisers should also rebuke the relevant Department when it fails to consult and inform the Sikh community as soon as possible otherwise there is a risk that the community will see them as part of the problem of inappropriate advice.

Sikh representatives at the meeting were very clear that they were equally interested in security, but believed an acceptable solution could be found without security staff having to touch the Sikh turban. It became clear that the Department is keen to find a solution as soon as possible as the UK Government could be deemed to be in breach of the EU Regulation. The Sikh Federation (UK) were pleased a very short timetable has been agreed as this will allow a long term solution to be found for UK airports in a matter of a few weeks that the UK Government can then share and push with its EU counterparts that will help all Sikhs traveling out of airports throughout the EU.

The solution put forward for the Sikh turban that the Department is considering is i) continued use of hand held metal detectors; and ii) the Sikh himself or herself touching their own turbans and having their hands swabbed to check for explosive material as practised in the USA. This could easily be implemented at all UK airports for turban wearing Sikh passengers and airport workers. It will be argued as representing ‘special screening procedures’ under the new Regulation that provide better security than security staff conducting hand searches as they do not have their hands swabbed for explosives. Where full body scanners are available and working (e.g. Heathrow) turban wearing Sikhs will have the option to use these scanners that identify metal and explosive material and provided there is no medical reason why they should not to use the scanner.

As the standard letters to MPs indicated the planned lobby was also to get clarity from the Department on the right of Amritdhari Sikh passengers to wear a small Kirpan (blade up to 6cm) while flying. The initial response given to Dr Jasdev Singh Rai from the Department last week was offensive to say the least.

At the meeting yesterday the Sikh representatives asked the Department to clarify its position on the Kirpan with respect to passengers with regards to the new Regulation. The Department agreed to put details on its web site about Amritdhari Sikh passengers being able to wear the Kirpan. However, the Department did not agree at this meeting to go as far as to state it would at this stage inform security staff at UK airports about this situation. Sikhs appreciate the Kirpan issue is a sensitive one for the Department in terms of the impression it may give to the general public who do not understand the significance of the Kirpan to an Amritdhari Sikh. However, the regulation does allow scissors and knives with blades up to 6cm so in principle there should be no difficulty in allowing Kirpans with a blade of up to 6cm, especially if they are worn discreetly under the clothes. The Department agreed to consider raising training standards for security staff at UK airports with regard to further understanding the sensitivity of Sikh articles of faith so this should make this a challenge that can be overcome.

Many that were due to take part in yesterday’s lobby that was postponed are asking if the lobby will take place in a few weeks time as an acceptable solution needs to be found quickly for the Sikh turban not just in the UK, but across Europe. The Department must also be crystal clear on the right of Amritdhari Sikh passengers to wear a small Kirpan (blade up to 6cm). A spokesman for the Sikh Federation (UK) said a decision would be made next week on whether to have the lobby date moved to Wednesday 21 July.

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[GuruManeyoGranth]

As other posters say, great work by the Sikh Federation. Let's face it, it was the political lobbying by Sikh Federation in a short space of time which made the difference here, not the back-door, secretive negotiations being held by the likes of BCSF (Dr Rai) or NSO (Indarjit Singh) with the Government.

BUT having said that, Sikh Federation releasing provocative press releases against the work of BCSF will not help the wider Panth. Average Sikh wants all Jathaebandiaa to work together for the betterment of the Panth.

Even though lack of transparency of NSO and BCSF leaves a lot to be desired, especially when they claim to represent Sikhs to the government without being accountable or transparent to the Sikh Sangat, having public spats between organisations does not move the Panthic cause forwards.

Waheguroo

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

As other posters say, great work by the Sikh Federation. Let's face it, it was the political lobbying by Sikh Federation in a short space of time which made the difference here, not the back-door, secretive negotiations being held by the likes of BCSF (Dr Rai) or NSO (Indarjit Singh) with the Government.

BUT having said that, Sikh Federation releasing provocative press releases against the work of BCSF will not help the wider Panth. Average Sikh wants all Jathaebandiaa to work together for the betterment of the Panth.

Even though lack of transparency of NSO and BCSF leaves a lot to be desired, especially when they claim to represent Sikhs to the government without being accountable or transparent to the Sikh Sangat, having public spats between organisations does not move the Panthic cause forwards.

Waheguroo

Just to clarify:

1) Whilst the Sikh Federation (UK) organised/pushed the political lobbying it was ordinary Sikhs up and down the country that need to know their emails, letters and phone calls to MPs made a real difference. This is an extremely powerful message – when Sikhs work together in a coordinated manner we can make real progress.

2) The press release was not at all meant to be provocative against the work of the BSCF – this was not the intention. The Sikh Federation (UK) has worked with others, including the BSCF in making progress on this issue. What the lengthy write up was aiming to do was point out in sufficient detail to the many Sikhs that were following this campaign and taking part in the lobby that the Department for Transport has been forced to make a U-turn. More details are now provided below:

i) When Dr Rai made an enquiry with the Department for Transport he received a very negative response last week (see below). This is in no way a criticism of the BSCF, but provides you an insight into the reality of the situation that Sikhs were facing.

ii) the press release also suggested the two Sikh faith advisers (Dr Jasdev Singh Rai and Dr Indarjit Singh) should rebuke Departments when they (Departments) fail to consult and inform the Sikh community. If this was to happen it would strengthen their position in the Sikh community. If the advisers stay silent (or delay widely sharing emails like the one re-produced below) there is a risk that the community may see the advisers as part of the problem. This is friendly advice, especially when we are trying to present a united front and trying to ensure the Sikh community have a clear indication of the Department’s thinking.

The response received by Dr Jasdev Singh Rai last week from a Department of Transport official is shown below:

Dear Jasdev,

Thank you for your mail to the Department requesting clarification relating to the recent changes in Aviation legislation.

Just to give you some context around the recent changes. Following the events of 11 September 2001, the European Commission introduced common basic standards in the field of aviation security that all Member States were required to meet.

The Commission reviewed and revised these regulations, which came into force on the 29 April 2010. Although there have been some changes, it is important to note that the UK Government, like all Member State is free to introduce more stringent measures to supplement the European basic standards where such measures are considered to be necessary and proportionate by the Member State.

In terms of your query:

1. A manual examination of Turbans. Under the new EC rules of the 29 April 2010, if an individual is subject to a physical hand search. The Security Officer is required to physically exam clothing, footwear and any headgear. This is inclusive of turbans. Prior to the change Security Staff would use an Hand held Metal Detector, however this would not necessarily assist in the finding of a non metallic threat, whereas a physical examination does increase the ability of Staff to find such items. Clearly you may feel that this does cause some members of the Sikh community some discomfort, but I it is important to note the reasoning behind the new rule. I’m aware that BAA offer their staff gloves which can be used when physically searching a turban, which will deal with the aspect of cleanliness when searching a turban, but in line with other European airports the UK Government have agreed to raise security standards when searching all headgear.

2. Kirpans being allowed on an aircraft. As you will no doubt be aware the average length of a Kirpan is between 7cms – 9 cms. The current regulations states that a knife with a blade of more than 6cms will not be allowed on board an aircraft, or indeed an airside location. Therefore, kirpans still fall within the prohibited articles list. Equally it is important to point out that an airport operator may decide to go further and not allow blades with a lower blade length on board and aircraft or to an airside location. But essentially there has been no change to this policy at all.

We appreciate that this may cause some discomfort to passengers and staff, however, I’m sure you will agree with us when we say that, there is well founded reasoning behind these measures as there are with measures put forward for the security aviation industry.

Many thanks

We hope by sharing the above it helps to show we are simply trying to be transparent to Sikhs that have shown a huge interest in this matter and NOT at all trying to have a 'public spat'.