SALDEF urges Sikh Community to immediately report all airport screening concerns Washington, D.C. July 10, 2008 – During the July 4 weekend, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) learned of an incident at an Indiana airport where a Sikh American man was told to remove his religiously mandated dastaar (Sikh turban). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Officer informed the Mr. Singh (name withheld) that due to an alleged TSA mandated “increase in screening scrutiny” during the July 4th holiday travel weekend, that he should remove his turban and pass it through the x-ray machine. The incident occurred at South Bend Regional Airport on July 4th when Mr. Singh was asked by the TSA Security Officer (TSO) if he was willing to remove his turban, even though he had cleared the metal detector without triggering an alarm. Fortunately, Mr. Singh knew his rights as a Sikh airport traveler and informed the TSA screener that he would not take off his dastaar. Following this, Mr. Singh was given the option to either have the TSO pat down his dastaar, or perform a self pat down. In order to properly document any additional incidents and to ensure that TSA is effectively executing their screening protocols, SALDEF requests all Sikh air travelers to document your airport screening experience. Your feedback will give us the data to inform TSA if they are following their prescribed protocol and ensure that they are being respectful of the religious rights of all Sikh travelers. SALDEF has contacted TSA and Department of Homeland Security officials to report this incident and to determine whether there was in fact any directive issued to the TSOs for increased scrutiny at the nation’s airports during this past July 4 holiday weekend. Additionally, for your reference, last year SALDEF created a simple visual guide to help Sikh travelers more easily navigate the screening process. SALDEF recommends carrying this guide during air travel to ensure you know your rights as a Sikh airport traveler. If you believe you have been denied access or been subject to any form of discrimination due to your Sikh identity, please report it immediately to SALDEF by reporting it online, by sending an email, or by calling us toll-free at 877-917-4547.
