FBI Director Mueller meets Sikh, Arab and Muslim American Groups

WASHINGTON, DC – FBI Director Robert Mueller met with leaders of national Sikh, Arab and Muslim organizations on Friday, Feb. 28 to discuss the rise in hate crimes and racial profiling of these communities in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The meeting was the latest in a series of meetings organized by the FBI with leaders of organizations who have been responding to post-September 11 bias incidents.

The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), the oldest national Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, addressed the possible increase in hate crimes in the next few months due to the looming war with Iraq and the need for the Bureau to aggressively investigate all reported bias incidents.

“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans remains a top priority for the FBI,” said Mueller. “I”m vitally concerned that the rights of Muslim, Sikh and Arab Americans be protected. The FBI stands prepared to take strong and immediate action against hate crimes in the event of any anti-Arab American backlash to world events.”

The FBI said its response to hate crimes has sent a clear message that hate crimes will not be tolerated. To date, the FBI reportedly has initiated 414 hate crime investigations involving Muslim, Sikh, and Arab-American victims, with 17 persons being charged federally thus far. Additionally, some 129 persons have been charged with state and local crimes in connection with these investigations.

The director also stressed the importance of strengthening relationships and improving cultural sensitivity. “We can”t do it without you,” Director Mueller said.

SMART encouraged the FBI to conduct religious and cultural awareness workshops at its training academy and at field offices across the country. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks SMART has conducted such trainings for numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. SMART also asked the FBI director to establish a relationship with the Sikh community to ensure that hate crimes are accurately reported nationwide.

Others attending the meeting were representatives of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Arab American Institute, the Islamic Institute, the American Muslim Council, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Washington, DC — On February 12, 2003, SMART issued a press release on the 1985 Air India bombing case, which contained some factual errors. The following is an excerpt from the agreed statement of facts submitted in the British Columbia Supreme Court when Inderjit Singh Reyat pleaded guilty Feb. 10 to 329 counts of manslaughter in the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182: “In May and June 1985, in the province of British Columbia, Mr. Reyat acquired various materials for the purpose of aiding others in the making of the explosive devices. Although Mr. Reyat acquired materials for this purpose, he did not make or arm an explosive device, nor did he place an explosive device on an airplane, nor does he know who did or did not do so. At no time did Mr. Reyat intend by his actions to cause death to any person or believe that such consequences were likely to occur.” Our press release incorrectly stated that Mr. Inderjit Singh Reyat “admitted he assisted others in plotting the bombing of an Air India Boeing 747 over the Atlantic Ocean in June 1985.” We apologize to Mr. Reyat, his family, and to the Sikh community for this error. Our intention was to represent Sikh values to the broader public and convey to them that violence directed against innocent civilians are never permissible under our value system. We have since retracted the press release.

SMART urges the Sikh communities in California to call the office of the San Francisco Mayor and Police Department Washington, DC – Sukhpal Singh Sodhi, a San Francisco cab driver, was murdered in the early hours of Sunday August 4, while driving home. Sukhpal Singh was the brother of Balbir Singh Sodhi, who was murdered in Arizona in the aftermath of 9/11. Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh advocacy group, contacted the FBI and urged it to investigate the killing as a possible hate crime. SMART is very concerned by news reports quoting San Francisco Police Department detectives as saying, “the investigation is in the preliminary stage,” and who also simultaneously concluded that “we don’t believe this is a hate crime at all.” These statements indicate that the police department has unfortunately concluded that Sukhpal Singh’s murder is not a hate crime prior to conducting an aggressive and complete investigation. SMART would like to see those responsible for this crime brought to justice irrespective of their motives. However, SMART urges the Sikh communities in California to write or call the office of the San Francisco Mayor and Police Department and urge them to fully investigate this killing as a possible hate crime. Willie L. Brown, Jr., Mayor City Hall, Room 200 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 554-6141 Fax: (415) 252-3107 (TDD) Email: damayor@sfgov.org San Francisco Police Department Public Affairs Office 850 Bryant Street San Francisco, CA 94103-4603 Phone: (415) 533-1651 Fax: (415) 553-1554 Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the San Francisco Police Department’s homicide division at (415) 431-2127. SMART will keep the community informed about any developments in this case and on the progress of the investigation. About SMART: Founded in 1996 to promote the fair and accurate portrayal of Sikh Americans and the Sikh religion in American media and society, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, member based organization. Its mission is to combat bigotry and prejudice, protect the rights and religious freedoms of Sikh Americans, and provide resources that empower the Sikh American community.

Sikh businessman claims bank denied him CD account By Arun Venugopal May 31, 2002 A Sikh businessman and operator of two Burger King franchises, including one near Ground Zero, has filed suit against Fleet National Bank, charging it denied him the opportunity to open a $250,000 certificate of deposit at a Fleet branch because of his appearance. “My civil rights were violated,” said Inderjeet Singh Chowdhary, who wears a turban and facial hair in accordance with his faith. “I have certain rights as a customer and in my opinion I had all the qualifications. I’m a resident and a citizen of this country.” On Aug. 21, Chowdhary visited Fleet Bank’s Carteret, N.J., branch with plans to open a 15-month certificate of deposit, according to the suit. He said he had discussed the matter beforehand with branch manager Alicia Eagleston. After he arrived and began filling out the paperwork with a teller, the transaction was cut short when Eagleston allegedly called the teller to her desk, the suit said. Eagleston declined to comment. The teller informed Chowdhary, 44, that he would not be allowed to apply for a certificate of deposit, according to the suit. Chowdhary claims in his lawsuit that Eagleston initially refused to give him an answer, but finally said that as the branch manager she had the right to look at a customer and decide who can and who cannot open a certificate of deposit. The racial discrimination lawsuit was filed in Middlesex County, N.J., Superior Court last week. Fleet maintains that Chowdhary never produced appropriate documentation but didn’t specify what was missing. The bank also said he arrived too late in the day to process the application – though Chowdhary said he showed up at the time specified. “There were a lot of other people in the bank that day and people felt maybe that I’d done something wrong. I felt very bad,” he said. “I felt humiliated.” Over the next week, Chowdhary said he wrote letters to Eagleston and Fleet’s customer care department, requesting an explanation. But it was only in January, after Chowdhary began communicating through his attorney, that Fleet responded. “We have twice in writing offered to open the account in question and we have not yet received a response from Mr. Chowdhary,” said Jim Schepker, a spokesman for Fleet. However, Ravinder Bhalla, an attorney representing Chowdhary, said the offer was inadequate and too late. “They’re not offering anything that’s not [readily] available,” Bhalla said. Fleet has previously encountered claims of racial discrimination, from employees and customers. In 1996, the Justice Department charged the company with unfair lending practices to lower-income minorities. And in the early ’90s, female and minority workers sued over wage discrepancies. But Fleet dismisses any allegations of racial insensitivity in this case. “Our record stands for itself. We recently received an outstanding rating from the CRA, the Community Reinvestment Act,” said Schepker, referring to a program by federal regulators that evaluates banks on how well they serve low- and moderate-income communities. “That’s the highest possible rating and puts us in fewer than the top 8 percent of banks. If the charge is that we discriminate, the CRA rating clearly indicates we have non-discriminatory practices.” Still, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force, a Washington-based advocacy group, is issuing a news release today in support of Chowdhary. The group, which calls itself SMART and became more active after Sept. 11, also may organize a nationwide boycott of Fleet by South Asian and Asian-Pacific communities if the bank does not address the situation to its satisfaction. Discrimination against Sikhs “is a problem that’s been in existence for a while and it’s not something that started with 9/11,” said Navtej Khalsa, associate director of the advocacy group. Sikhs are sometimes targeted because to the uninformed, they look like they could be of Middle Eastern descent. “But since 9/11, the problem has only gotten worse. That includes people not being hired or being laid off. Or not being serviced at a restaurant or other establishments.” Arun Venugopal is a freelance writer. Newsday

Washington, DC — The DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will hold its annual career expo to showcase the department’s operations and to recruit new officers including, for the first time, Sikh recruits to the department. After meetings with Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Taskforce (SMART) representatives on inclusion of Sikhs on the force, DC Police Chief Ramsey has publicly stated he would welcome Sikhs to serve in the police department. SMART considers this is a move in the right direction and a victory for Sikh Americans. On behalf of all Sikh Americans SMART thanks Police Chief Ramsey for his commitment to having an inclusive and diverse police force reflective of the local population. SMART encourages all Sikhs in the DC metro area who are interested in career with the DC police department to attend the expo. Recruiters will be on-site to provide more information on career opportunities as a police officer. Provisions have been made for those interested to take both the written and physical abilities tests. The written test will be held at the convention center and the physical test will be held at the Training Academy. The career expo will be held: WHERE: Washington DC Convention Center WHEN: April 27, 2002 from 9 am – 5 pm Minimum Job Requirements: To qualify for the position of police officer you must: 1. Be a US citizen at the time of application 2. Have reached the age of 20 years and six months at the time of application and have reached the age of 21 years at the time of appointment 3. Possess at least 20/100 vision, correctable to 20/30 in both eyes 4. Pass a written test 5. Pass the following physical requirements equipped as a police officer: – Run an obstacle course – Run serpentine course – Run up/down stairs – Drag 160 pound mannequin 30 feet – Run under a table – Run and jump over a fence – ID “suspect” after “pursuit” – Dry fire point and shoot 6. Pass a medical examination, including being of proportionate weight and height 7. Pass a psychological examination and drug-screening test 8. Possess a high moral character for carrying out law enforcement duties 9. Possess a valid driver’s license at the time of application 10. Have a high school diploma or a certificate of equivalency issued by a recognized department of education Residency Requirements: MPDC officers do not have to reside in DC; however, there is a residency preference that adds points to the rating and ranking score of qualified candidates who live in the District of Columbia. While police officers are not required to live in the District of Columbia, all applicants selected for police officer positions must certify that they will establish residence within a 25 mile radius of the United States Capitol building within 180 days from the date of graduation from the police training academy. More detailed information is available at: http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/site/default.asp or by contacting the department at: Metropolitan Police Department Office of Recruiting 300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 2169 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 727-2767 (800) 994-MPDC (6732)

SMART, Fleet Bank Reach Historic Agreement to Provide Improved Services to Sikh American Community, Reaffirms Commitment to Diversity and to Accommodate Sikh Religious Practices Washington, DC — A leading national Sikh advocacy group and the nation’s seventh largest retail financial institution, reached a broad-reaching agreement in which Fleet reaffirmed its commitment to diversity, including its existing policy of accomodating Sikh religious practices, and providing improved services to the Sikh community. Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force and FleetBoston Financial Corp., signed the joint agreement as part of a discrimination lawsuit settlement filed by a Sikh American customer. SMART, Inderjeet Singh Chowdhary, and Fleet Bank have been in negotiations since May last year, when Chowdhary, a Carteret, N.J., businessman filed a lawsuit against Fleet after being denied a CD account. Fleet Bank’s settlement of Chowdhary’s discrimination claim coincided with an agreement with SMART. Highlights of the agreement: • Fleet agrees to educate key employees about Sikh Americans. • Fleet pledges to promptly investigate discrimination allegations by its customers or employees. • Fleet commits to educate all its employees on the importance of diversity and its anti-discrimination policies. • Fleet agrees to develop personal, business and financial solutions tailored to address needs of the New Jersey Sikh community. • Fleet agrees to continue work with SMART to identify recipients of appropriate event sponsorship and funding programs designed to assist Sikh American charitable and community development organizations. The two parties will explore possible assistance to non-profit Sikh American charitable organizations with funding from the bank. • Fleet agrees to work cooperatively with SMART in the future to assist in the pre-litigation resolution of any religious discrimination claims made by any Sikh employee or customer against Fleet. SMART will provide Fleet with informational material about the Sikh faith, Sikh Americans and their religious practices to be incorporated in Fleet’s employee diversity training program. The Washington, DC–based advocacy group will also provide training and education to Fleet employees. Plans are underway for a presentation to Fleet’s New Jersey branch and district managers aimed at informing them about the Sikh community. “SMART is satisfied that Fleet has agreed to take these affirmative steps in addressing the Sikh American community’s concerns. We appreciate Fleet’s resolute effort during the negotiations.” said SMART’s Executive Director, Navtej S. Khalsa. “With this historic agreement as a blueprint SMART plans to enter into similar agreements with other corporations.”

Baltimore, M.D.– The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh civil rights advocacy group, conducted an educational seminar December 7, 2001 for the Director and employees of the Department of Justice Community Relations Service. Trainers from the Baltimore Police Department and members of various Maryland County Human Relations Commissions were also in attendance. This presentation was part of SMART’s ongoing efforts to educate federal government and local law enforcement agencies about Sikhism, explain how the events of September 11, 2001’s terrorist attacks affected the Sikh community, and possible solutions to address the concerns of Sikh Americans. The presentation offered a brief tutorial about the history and theology of the Sikh faith, but primarily focused on breaking down common stereotypes and mis-perceptions of Sikh Americans. In addition, the SMART presenter offered attendees possible solutions to address the issues facing the Sikh Americans community while still maintaining important security measures now in place across the nation. The presentation also highlighted the five articles of faith, giving special attention to the kirpan and turban. Additionally time was devoted to explaining the difference between Sikhs, and other commonly associated religions and cultural groups, stressing Sikh’s separate identity from Hindus, Muslims, and especially the Taliban. SMART believes that the most effective way to prevent further incidents of harassment of Sikh Americans, especially regarding domestic security issues, is continued education about Sikhism to federal agencies and local authorities.

The Interfaith Alliance Promotes DOT/FAA Air Travel Guidelines During Holiday Season To: National Desk Contact: Kim Baldwin or Jenny Davis, 202-639-6370 or 202-271-5695 (cell), both of The Interfaith Alliance Sumeet Kaur of the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force, 877-917-4547 Samuel Kaplan of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, 202-299-1130 WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ — The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) commends the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) for issuing a fact sheet of federal guidelines to address the issues of racial profiling and turban searches at airports facing Sikh, Muslim and other Americans of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent. The fact sheet, “Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Concerning the Air Travel of People Who Are Or May Appear to Be of Arab, Middle Eastern or South Asian Descent and/or Muslim or Sikh,” has been made available for public distribution on the FAA’s website at http://www.faa.gov/. As part of a grassroots effort to make the publication available to the religious and ethnic communities across the country, TIA has posted the guidelines on its website at “The DOT and FAA are to be commended for their efforts in producing these critical, educational guidelines in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. With the imminent holiday travel season, it is not only imperative that Sikhs, Muslims and those who appear to be of Middle Eastern descent know their rights when traveling through U.S. airports, but also essential that airline employees practice sensitivity and evidence respect for religious practices,” said the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of TIA. “The Interfaith Alliance will continue to work with the transportation industry as well as with varied religious communities to ensure the protection of religious and civil rights alongside the protection of airport security.” The fact sheet provides the answers to questions in the following five areas: — What new DOT/FAA security restrictions on carry-on items should I be aware of before I fly on a commercial airliner? — What are my rights when I fly on a commercial airliner? — What can I expect as I go through the security screening process at the airport? — How do screeners determine when additional security screening is appropriate? — What can I do if I believe that my rights have been violated? Since Sept. 11, there has been a rise in anti-Islamic and anti-immigrant sentiment. In fact, the FAA has documented numerous cases of Sikh Americans being improperly searched while traveling through US airports. Many cite incidents in which they were singled out and improperly searched because they looked Middle Eastern. Before passing through the metal detectors at airport security checkpoints, many Sikhs have been asked to remove their turbans in public — a practice that is forbidden by their faith. When a Sikh is asked to remove his turban in public, it is as though he is being asked to undress in public. “In early November, leaders of the Sikh community, along with The Interfaith Alliance, met with the FAA and DOT to not only discuss our concerns over treatment of Sikh Americans at airports, but also to educate them on our religious tradition,” said Manjit Singh, executive director of Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force. “The new guidelines are the clearest and most explicit yet in terms of how airlines should handle Sikh and other Americans who may be affected by illegal racial profiling incidents. We thank the DOT and FAA for responding to this concern of the Sikh and other minority communities.” The Sikh Council on Religion and Education organized the Nov. 6 meeting to allow leaders of the Sikh and other faith communities to discuss their concerns with officials from the DOT and FAA. TIA has sent copies of the guidelines to its local Alliances in 38 states as well as placed them on its website, http://www.interfaithalliance.org. Grassroots activists have made the guidelines available to Sikh, Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern and South Asian residents in their communities so that they may carry the guidelines with them when traveling. The FAA/DOT guidelines (4-pages) can be obtained at http://www.faa.gov/acr/DOTAT-RNO.doc or at http://www.interfaithalliance.org/Newsroom/press/011119DOT.PDF. —— Founded in 1994, The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a non-partisan clergy-led grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in the life of the nation and challenging those who manipulate religion to promote a narrow, divisive agenda. With more than 130,000 members drawn from over 50 faith traditions, local Alliances in 38 states and a national network of religious leaders, TIA promotes compassion, civility and mutual respect for human dignity in our increasingly diverse society. US Newswire

Sikh Americans harassed at the nation’s airports in the wake of the September 11 attacks because they wear turbans and beards, have received support from an unexpected, and powerful, quarter. Congressman Edolphus Towns, the New York Democrat and ranking member of the influential Congressional Black Caucus, took to the House floor to criticize the “blatant racial profiling” that led to increased incidents of Sikh men being asked to remove their turbans at airports. Last month he said Satpal Singh Kohli was about to board a Southwest Airlines flight from Albuquerque to Los Angeles when members of the ground crew demanded that he remove his turban. Towns noted Kohli’s protestations that his Sikh religion required him to wear the turban and as such he could not remove it, were of no avail as the ground crew insisted he remove his turban if he wanted to board the flight. Towns informed his Congressional colleagues that since Kohli needed to get to Los Angeles to be with his ailing father, and realizing the agents would not budge, asked to see their supervisor but was told in no uncertain terms that if he had a problem he should contact customer service. The lawmaker said, “The agents not only searched his turban in full view of other passengers, they searched his unshorn hair – required by his religion – as well,” which had left Kohli humiliated. Towns said even though the agents had told Kohli they only wanted to search his bag, not his turban or hair, went back on their promise and finally ended up not checking his bag. The lawmaker also brought to the attention of other members of Congress how another Sikh, this time a New York legal official, Tejinder Singh Kahlon, “was asked to remove his turban at a New York airport, and when he refused, was not allowed to board his plane.” “More than 99 percent of the people in this country who wear turbans are Sikhs. Turbans should not be removed and searched,” Towns said. Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Linda Rutherford, while admitting that the incident had to do with “passenger profiling,” claimed that the rules had to do with either what a passenger wears or what he looks like, but placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Federal Aviation Administration for these new rules, the Congressman added. “If that is true,” Towns said, “the FAA should be ashamed of themselves. They have institutionalized racial profiling as a part of their antiterrorism policy.” However, the lawmaker said, “If it is the airline’s policy, then decent Americans should flood Southwest Airlines’ headquarters with protests.” “We must not allow racial, religious or ethnic profiling,” Towns argued, and said it is imperative that “airport ground crews be prohibited from stopping Sikh passengers and searching their religiously-mandated turbans.” “This kind of discrimination is never acceptable,” he said, and called on Attorney General John Ashcroft and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta “to look into this matter and stop this harassment of Sikhs Americans immediately.” In recent weeks, Dr. Jasjit Ahluwalia, Chair and Director of Research, Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Director, Cancer Prevention, at the Kansas Cancer Institute was asked to remove his turban as he was trying to get on a flight to Brazil to attend a conference. The same fate awaited Gurmeet Singh, a computer consultant who was asked to remove his turban at the Albany, New York, airport. Manjit Singh, president of Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force said his group had received at least a dozen reports of Sikhs being harassed and told to remove their turbans at airport security points across the country. He was convinced there were many more cases but these incidents may not have been reported or are underreported. The one consolation in the cases of Ahluwalia and Gurmeet Singh was that the security personnel had the sensitivity to take them to a private area where they could remove their turbans and be patted down. But Kohli and Kahlon were not so lucky and humiliated in full view of other passengers. Article from India Abroad

Germantown, MD — The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national civil rights advocacy group, encourages all Sikh Americans to publicize Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurb on November 30, 2001, with their local media outlets and to educate local communities about Sikhism. On Friday, November 30, Sikh Americans across the nation will be gathering in local Gurdwaras or at other events to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurb. This is an excellent opportunity to educate your neighbors, schools, and friends about Sikhism and the importantance of this day for Sikh Americans. SMART also encourages Sikhs to contact their local media outlets and encourage them to write stories about this day and Sikhism. SMART recommends community members to submit the below provided brief paragraph explaining the Gurpurb event along with a deXion about Guru Nanak to their local news paper’s calendar of religious events: “On Friday, November 30, 2001, the Sikh Community of XXXX [REPLACE XXXX WITH YOUR CITY’S NAME] will celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder and the first of ten Gurus (divinely inspired prophet-teachers) of the Sikh religion. The three basic tenets of Sikhism, as declared by Guru Nanak, are: (1) earn your livelihood with honesty, (2) constantly remember God through devotion and activism and (3) share your earnings with the needy. The Guru, who was exceedingly tolerant of other faiths, embraced the entire humanity as the children of one God.” After September 11, 2001, many people have ignorantly mistaken Sikhs for Muslims, Arab Americans or the terrorists associated with the attacks on New York and Washington. This is one way for Sikh Americans to educate their communities about themselves and Sikhism. SMART also encourages Sikh Americans to distribute information about Sikhism at their local Gurdwaras, schools, businesses and workplaces.