FAAs NEW SECURITY REGULATIONS ADDRESS ILLEGAL "TURBAN SEARCHES"
November 20, 2001, Washington, DC -- The Federal Aviation
Administration
(FAA), issued a new set of directives today that specifically
address the
issue of racial profiling and turban-searches facing Sikh
Americans at
airports. This new guidance explicitly explains the importance
of the Sikh
turban and kirpan, and describes how to be sensitive and
respectful during
conducting search of Sikh American passengers at airport
security.
In its ongoing efforts to help the federal government understand
Sikhism,
the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national
civil
rights advocacy group, has been closely working with and
providing comments
to the Department of Transportation and FAA on these guidelines
and
directives.
The new guidelines are aimed at stopping the current "turban
removal and
searches" that occur at airports, and help Sikh Americans feel
comfortable
to fly again. They clearly state that profiling a Sikh for
wearing a
turban, including extra searches beyond those done to
non-turbaned people,
and asking Sikhs to remove their turban, is illegal. The
guideline states:
"Persons or their property may not be subjected to inspection,
search
and/or detention solely because they appear.....Sikh.
Individuals MAY NOT
be selected for additional screening based solely on appearance
or dress.
Selecting a man for screening solely because he is wearing a
turban, as
some Sikh men and women do, is UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION."
They also clearly explain the kirpan and allow small kirpans
worn around
the neck in and beyond the security area.
"A kirpan is a sheathed sword...[and] is a mandatory article of
faith for
initiated Sikhs...almost always carried on the person. Some
Sikhs wear
mini-kirpans...that are not knives on necklaces. These
mini-kirpans....are
permitted beyond screener checkpoints."
All regular kirpans must be checked in carry-on luggage.
A PDF version of the DOT guidelines are attached. You can also
view it at:
http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/DOTFactSheet2.htm
SMART encourages all Sikhs to carry the new directives with them
during
their holiday travels to prevent any unnecessary searches. If
you feel that
you were harassed or treated unfairly while
travelling, please report the incident to SMART by filling out
the "Airport
Passenger Profiling Incident Report Form" at:
http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/passenger_profiling_form.htm
For more information about airport security and your rights as
an airline
passenger please see SMARTs Advisory at:
http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/news_events/ca20011003.htm
###
-----
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
membership 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 Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART)
P.O. Box 1761
Germantown, MD 20875-1761
Tel: 877-91-SIKHS (TOLL FREE)
Fax: 202-318-4433
Email: info@sikhmediawatch.org
Web: http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/
 Main: FAAs NEW SECURITY REGULATIONS | Rupinder Singh Bedi | 11/27/2001 |
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