Thousands of Sikhs are set to gather in London to protest against harassment they say they experience at European airports.
The demonstration, in Parliament Square at noon, will be held simultaneously with others in four other European capitals – Brussels, Rome and Madrid.
Sikhs are protesting against what they describe as intimidation and disrespect of their faith at European airports.
They say there have been growing problems at airports for Sikhs travelling from the UK being asked to remove their turbans despite successfully passing through security scanners.
The campaign is being coordinated by the Sikh Channel, a cable TV station based in Birmingham and London which broadcasts to an international audience.
Abinash Singh and his wife Balraj, from Hayes, west London, recently appeared on the channel describing their experience at an Italian airport where officials forced the removal of his turban.
Mr Singh said: “After the contribution of the Sikhs in the world wars, after the positive contribution made to European society by Sikhs, this treatment is deeply upsetting.”
The demonstration in London is expected to be attended by community leaders and Sikh celebrities as well as Wolverhampton MP and former adviser to Tony Blair Pat McFadden.
The group argues that there is no justified security reason for removal of turbans which have successfully passed through scanners.
It is calling on national governments in Europe to investigate the treatment of Sikhs at airports and make representations to their European partners where Sikhs are found to be abused.
A spokesman for the Sikh Channel described the enforced removal of turbans as “a totally unacceptable infringement of our faith”.
He added: “It’s also totally unnecessary as turban is no different than any other item of clothing in relation to a metal detector or x-ray machine.”
News Source: Sky News
