Washington, DC – The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) alarmed by the current campaign associating the wearing of a turban and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) with terrorism. SALDEF, ADC and over 100 national and local organizations (see full list below) are strongly opposed to a recent flyer campaign launched by the Nutritional Health Alliance (NHA) depicting Senator Durbin wearing a turban with the words, “Keep Congressional Terrorism at Bay.” “ While we are aware of legitimate political differences in the debate on supplement regulation, the flyer produced by the NHA transgresses the boundaries of both legitimate and civil political discourse. The flyer serves as nothing more than hatemongering and uses stereotypes to support its point of view. We are disappointed that NHA would be engaged in the production of such a racist flyer that serves to perpetuate an increased environment of prejudice and hate against the Sikh, Muslim and Arab American communities . The flyer, which can be viewed here, makes an explicitly false correlation between individuals who wear turbans and terrorism or terrorist activities. It also attacks Senator Durbin and associates him with terrorism. The turban is a mandatory article of faith for the Sikh community. Adherents of the Sikh faith are required by their religion to keep uncut hair and cover their head with a turban. Additionally, many Muslims and Arabs wear turbans for cultural reasons. The turban is a sign of respect, dignity and humility and should not be associated with terrorism or terrorist activity. SALDEF, ADC and the other cosponsors urge the NHA to remove the flyer from any further distribution immediately. We further ask that a public apology be made and posted on the NHA’s website. Legitimate public debate must not be tainted with images that continue to create a dangerous environment of xenophobia and hate against innocent Sikh, Muslim, Arab and South Asian Americans. Click here to read the letter to the Nutritional Health Alliance Click here to read the letter to Senator Durbin
