Beliefnet News

Beliefnet News

Sunday is “Turban Day” for Europe’s Sikhs

Sikhs in traditional turbans

Thousands of Sikhs will gather across Europe Sunday to proclaim their right to wear their faith’s required turbans — and to voice concerns with legal challenges to such headgear in some parts of Europe.

The turban or dastaar is mandatory for devout Sikh men. They are not allowed to remove it even to wear safety headgear such as motorcycle helmets.

Thousands of turban-wearing Sikhs are expected to gather in European capitals in a simultaneous gathering organized by the Sikh Channel, a Europe-wide TV Station on the SKY platform.

Live broadcast on the Sikh Channel the Turban Awareness Gatherings will take place from Madrid, London, Rome and Brussels.

Sikhs in Italy have complained of difficulties at some Italian airports of being asked to remove their turbans, with many Sikhs refusing to do so and, as a result, missing their flights. Some Italian provinces require Sikhs to remove Turbans for driving licence photographs. Thus, a number of Sikhs have not applied for driving licenses to avoid what they consider the humiliation of being photographed without their turbans.

The British gathering is expected to occur at noon outside of the Houses of Parliament. In Rome, Sikhs will gather at the Piazza Montecitorion.



You Might Also Like...
Previous Posts

Confessions of a Preacher’s Daughter
She’s the star of “This Is Our Time.” She played Kirk Cameron’s wife in the surprise blockbuster “Fireproof.” But she grew up as the pastor’s kid at a megachurch. Was Erin Bethea the stereotypical fast-driving, hard-drinking, boy-teasing, cigar-smoking preacher’s daughter? After all,

posted 12:04:02pm Apr. 23, 2013 | read full post »

Focus on the Family’s President Says It’s Time to “Refocus”
 It’s tough out there in the culture wars and Jim Daly has the battle scars to prove it. But does the top executive of Focus on the Family believe he can ever successfully declare

posted 10:24:18am Mar. 14, 2013 | read full post »

5-week Bible special a labor of love for famous TV producer and 'Touched by an Angel' wife
It’s a passion project. The new 10-hour mini-series The Bible is “a story of enduring love,” says Mark Burnett, producer of TV mega-hits Survivor (CBS), The Voice (NBC), The Celebrity Apprentice (NBC), and Shark Tank (ABC). “It’s many, many stories that have endured over thousands of ye

posted 4:47:19am Feb. 21, 2013 | read full post »

Who should be allowed to pray for Obama?
It seems preposterous, but there’s a major debate over who is worthy to invoke the presence and blessing of the Almighty on the leaders of this land we love! So, who is qu

posted 1:59:32pm Jan. 15, 2013 | read full post »

Do parents have a say in what schools teach?
Should a Hindu foundation be allowed to finance yoga instruction in California grade schools – despite vehement parental objections? Should a student production featuring cross-dressing and gender confusion go ahead in Utah despite protests from furious parents? [caption id="attachment_12003" a

posted 4:11:31pm Jan. 07, 2013 | read full post »

Advertisement
Comments read comments(2)
post a comment
mk dubey

posted September 24, 2011 at 8:22 pm


disallowing turbans at work is illogical and illegal. but need to take it off at airports for security checks (in a private room) is not. also it can not be anybody’s claim that the turban is an effective substitute for a safety helmet. even in India, Sikh cricketers wear helmets on the field.



report abuse
 

Veer

posted October 16, 2011 at 12:18 am


Mate removing a turban is like let going of all the values you hold dear it’s worse than being killed. there is not always need to remove it as airport officers are issued with detectors. As well people really need to be more educated about Sikhs seriously that’s how presumptions and stereotype barriers can be eliminated. Yes its true Sikh crickers wear helmets because that’s a different form “patka” usually for young people not a “dastaar” for usual Sikhs. Therefore religious freedom should be advocated in the sense of education.



report abuse
 

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.





Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.