ROME, Italy (August 7, 2013)–Bhai Manjit Singh GK, President of Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee was asked to remove his turban at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Bhai Manjit Singh was in Italy to promote awareness of the Sikh identity and help resolve turban and identity related issues Italian Sikhs had been facing there.
Along with Bhai Manjit Singh GK, four of his associates on board an Emirates airlines flight to Dubai were also refused security clearance by Italian security. Such issues have become common in Italy where Sikh passengers are humiliated by the airport security services.
As per the latest reports, Bhai Manjit Singh GK refused to remove his turban. Sikhs in large numbers have reached the Rome airport to protest the disgraceful incident. Sikhs have also protested in New Delhi. Other Sikhs accompanying Manjit Singh GK are said to be Paramjit Singh Rana, Gurvinderpal Singh, Puneet Singh Chandhok and Gurbachan Singh Cheema.
In a statement, Bhai Manjit Singh GK said, “for last almost 24 hours we are on airport and will try to take flight on Wednesday night but we will not take off our turbans.” He further alleged that representatives of 40 Gurdwaras in Italy have approached the airport administration.
Removal of the turban–especially forced removal–in public is considered blasphemous and the team with Manjit Singh GK refused to do so. They asked the security team to manually check the turbans using metal detectors but the airport security was adamant in asking the Sikhs to remove their dastars.
The Ambassador of India in Rome is said to be monitoring the situation and despite the efforts by the Indian Embassy in Rome, the airport administration has denied permission to Bhai GK and his associates to board their flight.
Source: Times of India