Dastar Day - A Calling For All Gursikhs To Attend

[PrabhKaSimran]

D Day: 25th September 2011: London: Rome: Madrid: Brussels

• Turbaned Sikhs Liberated Europe 1944
• Now Sikhs across Europe Gather Liberate Turban in Europe 25th September 2011

D Day an abbreviation for Dastar Day (Dastar Punjabi word for Turban) is a Turban Awareness Day to be held at several European Capitals.

Thousands of Sikhs will gather across Europe to voice their concerns with Challenges to the Sikh Turban in some parts of Europe. The Turban is an important and integral part of the Sikh identity, in recent years since the heightened security post 9/11, the Sikh Turban has become an easy target for many European officials. The gatherings will give highlight the concerns of ignorance and misunderstanding felt by Sikhs about their Identity.

Thousands of Sikhs are expected in a simultaneous gathering organised by the Sikh Channel, a Europe wide TV Station on the SKY platform. Live Broadcast on the Sikh Channel of each Turban Awareness Gathering will take place from Madrid, London, Rome and Brussels.

In recent months Sikhs in Italy have experienced particular difficulties at some Italian airports being asked to remove their turbans, with many Sikhs refusing to fly and missing their flights. Similarly some Italian provinces require Sikhs to remove Turbans for driving licence photographs, again many Sikhs have not applied for driving licenses avoiding the humiliation of photographs without their turbans.

UK Sikhs in a show of support will attend a Turban Awareness Gathering on 25th September 2011 at midday outside Houses of Parliament. In Rome thousands of Sikhs will gather at the Piazza Montecitorion, with further attendances in Central Madrid and Brussels.

This large scale and simultaneous gathering of Sikhs across Europe has never been seen before and is a significant measure to highlight problems being encountered by Sikhs at airports in Europe and raise awareness of the Sikh Turban.

Information:

Dastar Awareness Gathering: All Sikhs requested to attend with Blue or White or Orange Turbans, no slogans or other issues to be voiced.

UK Sikhs:

House of Commons, Old Palace Yard SW1 midday – 5pm

Italian Sikhs:

Manifestation Roma, piazza montecitorio, Piazza navona

10am - 2pm

Germany/Belgium/Holland Sikhs

Brussels European Parliament : Midday TBC

Spanish/Portugal Sikhs

Madrid: TBC

For further information please email; info@sikhchannel.tv

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Background to the Sikh War Contribution

By the advent of World War I, Sikhs in the British Indian Army totaled over 100,000, i.e. 20% of the British Indian Army. In the years to 1945, 14 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Sikhs, a per capita record given the size of the Sikh Regiments.[70] In 2002, the names of all Sikh VC and George Cross winners were inscribed on the pavilion monument of the Memorial Gates[90] on Constitution Hill next to Buckingham palace, London.

During World War I, Sikh battalions fought in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and France. Six battalions of the Sikh Regiment were raised in World War II, and served at El Alamein and in Burma, Italy and Iraq, winning 27 battle honours.

Across the world, Sikhs are commemorated in Commonwealth cemeteries.

"In the last two world wars 83,005 turban wearing Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded. They all died or were wounded for the freedom of Britain and the world, and during shell fire, with no other protection but the turban, the symbol of their faith."

- General Sir Frank Messervy

"British people are highly indebted and obliged to Sikhs for a long time. I know that within this century we needed their help twice [in two world wars] and they did help us very well. As a result of their timely help, we are today able to live with honour, dignity, and independence. In the war, they fought and died for us, wearing the turbans."

- Sir Winston Churchill

[dholki]

Please can anybody provide details of transport to London to this event from the Midlands.

Thanks :blush2:

[ks55]

great stuff - hope this happens every year

[Paneer Monster]

if it hurts you to see sikh men and women of all ages geting descriminated against because of their turbans.... then attend.

.... this is important. if we dont attend we give the impression we do not care.

i know of several cases where turbaned sikhs have suffered bad treatment particularly at airports for no good reason. about 5 years ago i witnessed airport officials searshing AN OLD SINGHS DHARI. this was not in any european airport but this is enough reason for me to attend. in addition to this we have heard of many cases on sikh channel of sikhs being singled out because of they keep a dastaar on their heads many of whome end up missing their flights etc.

other communities stand whith their own when it matters..... we should do the same. if you care for your quam you will attend.

also encourage your local gurdwara's to make frequent annountments that we have an ethical duty to attend. ask your local gurdwara sahibs and sangat if they know of any transport. its in a very central location.

for those out of london that do not know, it is not a hard task to get transport (coach /train) into london, then plan your journey using tfl journey planner.

[Pyara]

http://www.prnewswir...lease?id=333611

Sikhs Take to the Streets to Demand Dignity and Respect at European Airports

BIRMINGHAM, England, September 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Thousands of Sikhs will today take part in a simultaneous demonstration in four European capitals to protest against what they say is a growing trend of intimidation and disrespect of their faith at European airports.

The UK demonstration will commence in Parliament Square in London at midday, 25^th September and will be attended by community leaders and Sikhs from all over the country. Similar gatherings are being held in Brussels, Rome and Madrid.

In recent months, there have been increasing problems at Italian airports for Sikhs travelling from the UK being asked in very impolite and often belligerent terms to remove their turbans, after having successfully passed through security scanners.

Abinash Singh and his wife Balraj from Hayes recently appeared on the Sikh Channel telling of their degrading experience at an Italian airport. The officials were not willing to take part in any dialogue but forced the removal of their turbans. Abinash said "after the contribution of the Sikhs in the world wars, after the positive contribution made to European society by Sikhs, this treatment is deeply upsetting"

Sikhs argue there is no justified security reason for removal of turbans which have successfully passed through scanners and feel victimised as a result of the ongoing 9/11 backlash against minorities.

The campaign to promote fair treatment for Sikhs is being co-ordinated by the Sikh Channel, a cable TV station based in Birmingham and London which broadcasts to an international audience.

A Famous Sikh said, "Reports from across Europe indicate that our Sikh brothers are being forced to remove their turbans at airport security. This is a totally unacceptable infringement of our faith, it's also totally unnecessary as a turban is no different than any other item of clothing in relation to a metal detector or x-ray machine."

Campaigners are calling on national governments in Europe to investigate the treatment of Sikhs at airports and make representations to their European partners where Sikhs are found to have been abused.

Sikh celebrities will be joined by the Labour MP for Wolverhampton Pat McFadden in addressing the demonstration.

Note to editors: The demonstration will include army personnel and the world's oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh

[SikhWorldTv]

Bole So Nihaal Sat Sri Akaal

[Guru Panth Khalsa]

Coaches going from Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, please attend. The sangat should back this event 100%

[Guru Panth Khalsa]

pressurise your local Gurdwara to book coaches.

[Guru Panth Khalsa]

Please check list on Sikh channel, i this the following Gurdwaras have organised coaches:

GNG SMETHWICK

GURDWARA WARWICK & LEAMINGTON SPA

GNG SOUTH BIRMINGHAM

THE SIKH TEMPLE LEEDS

BARKING GURDWARA

GURU NANAK DARBAR GURDWARA GRAVESEND

GURU ARJAN DEV GURDWARA DERBY

GURU NANAK SATSANG GURDWARA WOLVERHAMPTON

AND MANY MORE I CANT REMEMBER.......

WHAT ABOUT OTHER GURDWARAS? COACHES NEEDED FROM.................

GNG SEDGLEY STREET WOLVERHAMPTON,

GURU HAR RAI GURDWARA WEST BROMWICH,

NANAKSAR PLECK,

GNG WEST BROMWICH,

SRI GURU SINGH SABHA NEWCASTLE,

GURU NANAK PARKASH GURDWARA COVENTRY,

GURU TEG BAHADUR GURDWARA LEICESTER,

GNG LEICESTER,

OADBY GURDWARA,

CROSS ROADS GURDWARA COVENTRY,

SINGH SABHA GURDWARA DERBY,

SINGH SABHA GURDWARA NOTTINGHAM,

GURU NANAK GURDWARA CALDMORE WALSALL,

SRI GURU SINGH SABHA SOUTHALL,

SRI GURU SINGH SABHA HOUNSLOW,

GNNSJ BIRMINGHAM,

BRISTOL GURDWARA,

SWINDON GURDWARA

WAKE UP COMMITTEES!!

Despite bogus attempts by anti – Sikh elements to stop these events taking place the Sikh population from across the world have given overwhelming support to this event.

For more information please see www.sikhchannel.tv please contact you local Gurdwara for transport.

[Guru Panth Khalsa]

All sangat please join this page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Sangat-TV/169421676473007

I'm not against Sangat TV itself JUST THE MANAGEMENT

Bhai sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji need to take control over their channel.