Sikhs, Muslims Lobby Against Racial Profiling

Home

News

Sikhs, Muslims Lobby Against Racial Profiling

WASHINGTON (RNS) Sikh and Muslim groups are pushing Congress to pass
a bill prohibiting racial profiling that’s been languishing for more than nine years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Two groups, Muslim Advocates and the Sikh Coalition, are seeking passage of the End Racial Profiling Act, which was first introduced in 2001 and is currently sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers Jr., D-Mich.
The bill would prohibit racial profiling by law enforcement agencies and allow any person who is the victim of profiling to sue for “declaratory or injunctive relief.”
“It’s absolutely critical for Congress to weigh in and ban racial, religious profiling by law enforcement,” said Farhana Khera, president and executive director of Muslim Advocates, who was scheduled to testify Thursday (June 17) before a House subcommittee.
“It’s simply bad policing. It’s wrong and counterproductive.”
There are an estimated 6 million Muslims and Sikhs living in the United States, and a significant number have faced secondary airport screenings since 9/11, said Amardeep Singh, director of programs at the Sikh Coalition.
“It’s not fair, not safe, not American to be subjecting our community to this extra scrutiny,” Singh said. “We’re losing our focus and not keeping our eye on the ball when it comes to air traffic safety.”
Last month, Singh and his 18-month-old son Azaad were selected for additional screening at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. Security personnel found Elmo books and a toy truck inside Azaad’s bag, Singh said.
“I had to grab him, get him in the glass box and had to hold him while he was crying as a screener patted him down,” Singh said. “It’s just a mess. Why is my son being punished for something he had nothing to do with?”
By Fernando Alfonso III
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.

You Might Also Like...

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 »

read all»

Comments read comments(3)

post a comment

sam

posted June 18, 2010 at 4:55 am

while reading this article I was thinking yes i agree that people shouldnt be racist and make racist judgements just because of your religious background and just because terroists used relgion as an acuse to kill thousands upon thousands of inocent people in the usa and also uk doesnt mean we have to dicrimante people because of race i personaly think its disgusting but i do believe in checking everybody before they get on to an aircraft for the safety of passengers and members of staff yes they checked mr singh and his son no because of his background or religion but because airport staff have a duty to protect passengers and other members of staff who knows what any person might be carrying its not just muslims or sikhs that get searched but its also christian americans and british who get searched you cant always cry wolf because your apart of a religion and say its a discrimantion on islam or sikhism arnt they judgeing also us because of our religious background i think its stupid that people cant get on with each other because of what they are nobody ever says i think its racism that the airport secruity is checking me because im christian catholic/protestant yes i understand that muslim terrorist hijacked a plane and crashed into the twin towers but what about northern ireland and the trouble they have between protestant and catholic communitys and how the ira bombed london you dont hear catholics /protestants saying why are they checking my bags i myself am fed up with taking my shoes belt and opening my bag up and having to buy liquids under 50ml but i know i have to follow rules and regulations for a safe journey to my destination i dont kick up a fuss i just do it to make my travel easy i wish people would stop using relgion as an accuse and get on with there lifes who cares what color race or religion you are its not a bout that its about safety for paseengers and staff to get from a to b without any problems like the japanise saying they always check me because what happened in pearl harbour or bristish and americans saying they always check me because we won the 2nd world war and bombed germany these people who use relgion as an accuse should really be ashamed of there selfs as even in the koran it states that islam followers should not judge as he or she is not allah and only allah can judge as allah is creator and we are his slaves so he can take your life if allah so wishes .so please please stop using relgion as an excuse and get on with your lifes and stop involveing relgion and just do as your asked in an airport !!!!!!!!!

Garrett

posted June 21, 2010 at 3:18 pm

let all those that will be terrorist wear a bright yellow cape… then everyone will complain that tose waring bright yellow capes are being profiled…
Get over it folks! There is a reason for the profiling and until a nation stands up against the deadly of their own there will be profiling… Like the countries creaating the terrorism are NOT profiling??? HELLO!!!!! There are muslims that do not support the terrorists, just as there were Japenese, Germans, Koreans, Vietnamese that did not support country’s activities… ONCE a sovereignty is being threatened, it is time for profiling… If my family is going to be made safer from profiling then I am all for it — because I know the enemies of my state are profiling us for attack!