Man sentenced to 15 months in attack on Sikh taxi driver

"He attacked my faith, my dignity, and my entire community."



On Friday in Seattle, a man was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to the 2017 assault with a deadly weapon of a 53-year-old Sikh American taxi driver.

Swarn Singh, who maintains and unshorn beard and wears a turban in observance with this Sikh faith, was driving his taxi last December when Rory Benson, a passenger, brutally attacked him with a hammer.

On December 16, 2017, Singh had parked outside an apartment building to drop off Rory Benson and his mother. It was then that Benson, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, attacked Singh, grabbing the piece of cloth Singh kept in his taxi to wipe the windshield and attempted to suffocate him with it.

Singh immediately ran out of the taxi, but Benson, grabbing a hammer from his bag, chased him on foot. He caught up to Singh and hit him in the head repeatedly, specifically targeting his turban and knocking it to the ground. Singh suffered a scalp laceration and a skull fracture. Benson was arrested.

Idiot air passenger fears Sikh man is a terrorist

These snaps should give you a sense of what it's like for anyone who appears to be Muslim to travel by plane.



The thing about commercial air travel is that you never know what kind of weird or awful or questionable people you're going to be forced to fly with. For instance, this recent flight where a Sikh man boarded the plane. No, I'm not calling the Sikh passenger weird or awful or questionable. I'm talking about the asshole who freaked out over the sight of a guy with a turban and beard and broadcast his racist assumptions on social media.

Because a guy who looks like that could definitely be a terrorist, right? This jerk recently documented his ridiculous prejudice and paranoia on Snapchat, posting photos of the Sikh passenger seated nearby, taken surreptitiously over the course of the flight, chronicling his activities with fearful commentary like, "Please god just let the man sleep" and "Ok he just walk to the back of the Plane then to the front then to his seat."

Screen grabs of the Snapchat posts were shared on social media by educator and activist Simran Jeet Singh, who is also Sikh and is all too familiar with the "uncomfortable stares" of fellow passengers in an era of heightened Islamophobia. And yet Singh tries to show compassion even when faced with such ignorance.

"This series of snaps should give you a sense of what it's like for anyone who appears to be Muslim to travel by plane," Singh wrote in a series of tweets. "As a Sikh who flies frequently, I'm no stranger to the uncomfortable stares and misguided fears people have of me."

Sikh taxi driver assaulted by passengers in hate crime

Harkirat Singh was assaulted by drunken passengers who called him racial slurs and ripped off his turban.


Harkirat Singh (Photo Credit: New York Daily News)
In New York, a Sikh taxi driver was assaulted by a group of drunken passengers who called him racial slurs and ripped his turban off his head. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. (No shit.)

Sikh taxi driver assaulted, turban stolen by drunken passenger in the Bronx

25-year-old Harkirat Singh, who wears a turban and unshorn beard in observance of his Sikh faith, was driving a woman and three men in their early 20s from Madison Square Garden to the Bronx early Sunday morning when the passengers began to physically assault him and rip off his turban.

Sikh man falsely accused of terrorism on Greyhound bus

Daljeet Singh is demanding accountability after being falsely accused and imprisoned by fellow passengers.


In Texas, a Sikh man has filed an official complaint demanding that criminal charges be brought against individuals who falsely accused him of making a bomb threat and unlawfully restrained him on a bus.

Daljeet Singh, who wears a turban and beard in observance of his Sikh faith, was a passenger on a Greyhound bus traveling through Amarillo on February 21, 2016 when he was falsely accused by a fellow passenger of making a terroristic threat.

"The only crime I committed was wearing a turban, having a beard, and speaking in a different language to another brown man on a bus," said Mr. Singh. "I still cannot believe that this happened to me in America."

During the bus trip from Phoenix to Indianapolis, Mr. Singh met another Punjabi-speaking man, Mohammad Chotri from Pakistan, who invited Singh to sit with him. The two men were strangers and had never met before, but shared a dialect of Punjabi. Neither man could speak or understand English fluently.

Shortly after departing from Amarillo, the bus stopped on the side of the road. According to Mr. Singh, two passengers restrained him and prevented him moving or using his phone to call an English-speaking family remember. When authorities arrived, Mr. Singh was arrested, searched, made to remove his religious turban, handcuffed and detained.

Later, Mr. Singh found out that another passenger had complained to the bus driver and to the police that he and Mr. Chotri had made a terroristic threat and that they were "acting suspicious."

"Actually, she called it 'acting weird.'" Singh says.

"It's just not an option for us to throw another community under the bus."

The Daily's Show's Hasan Minhaj talks to Sikhs about how Islamophobia is affecting their community.



Since 9/11, the rise of Islamophobia has targeted groups indiscriminately with hate speech and violence. Sikhs, who wear a turban as an article of faith, have often been mistaken for Muslims. But as this Daily Show segment demonstrates, you won't find the Sikh community throwing Muslims under the bus.

Hasan Minhaj -- aka "Brown Ryan Seacrest" -- recently sat down with designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia and other Sikhs to find out how Islamophobia is affecting their community. Despite Hasan's urging to Sikhs to attempt to blend in, deflect and declare "We're not Muslim!" the group of individuals gathered here says they won't compromise their values -- as Sikhs and as Americans.

Waris Ahluwalia flies home, ending standoff over turban

Aeromexico apologizes to Sikh American actor, promising changes in security procedure.



Victory. On Wednesday morning, after a two-day standoff in Mexico City, Sikh American actor, designer and activist Waris Ahluwalia boarded an Aeromexico flight back home to the United States.

Sikh Actor Is Allowed to Fly Home to U.S. Wearing His Turban

The airline initially barred Ahluwalia from flying because he refused to remove his turban, an article of his Sikh faith. But after Waris took a stand, calling for better sensitivity and training regarding passengers with religious headwear -- attracting a ton of media attention in the process -- Aeromexico relented.

After spending two extra days grounded in Mexico City, Ahulwalia was allowed to board a new Aeroméxico flight without removing his turban for a security check. In addition to issuing an apology to Ahluwalia, the airline agreed to initiate staff training about how to deal with passengers wearing religious head coverings.

Waris Ahluwalia barred from flight because of his turban

Sikh actor and designer denied entry into Aeromexico flight back to New York.



On Monday, celebrity Sikh American fashion designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia was barred from boarding his AeroMexico flight home from Mexico City to New York City because he refused to remove his turban.

Turban-Wearing Sikh American Actor Is Barred From Aeroméxico

Ahluwalia, who wears a turban in observance of his Sikh faith, says he was flagged for a secondary security check. He was held back until all other passengers had boarded the 7:15 AM Aeroméxico flight out of Mexico City. Security personnel searched his bag, swabbed him and patted him down.

When they asked Ahluwalia to take off his turban, he refused.

Sikh football fans harassed for wearing turbans

Also, someone called the cops on them for being brown and standing next to a car.



More idiocy in the name of "safety." In San Diego, three Sikh football fans say they were harassed and nearly barred by security from entering Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday because they were wearing turbans.

Fans: We were hassled at Qualcomm stadium over our turbans

Varinder Malhi and his friends drove seven hours from Fresno to see the Denver Broncos play the San Diego Chargers. They were decked out in Broncos jerseys, hats and other fan gear, right down to the color-coordinated turbans they were wearing in accordance with their Sikh faith.

But when they tried to enter the stadium, security guards told Malhi and his friends that they couldn't enter the game unless they removed their turbans. They were ultimately allowed in, but were warned they wouldn't be able to wear their turbans again if they ever returned to the stadium.

On top of that, some overly nervous fan apparently got jumpy and called the cops when they saw Malhi and his turbaned friends in the parking lot, rummaging in the trunk of a car. They were just putting a bag back in the car when they realized they couldn't bring it inside the stadium.

Hate crime charges added to beating of Sikh man

Inderjit Mukker was repeatedly punched in the face and called "terrorist" and "Bin Laden"



In Illinois, the DuPage County State's Attorney announced Tuesday that the teen who beat a Sikh man in the face in Darien last week, calling him "terrorist" and "Bin Laden," has been charged with a hate crime, in addition to the previous charges of felony aggravated battery. Turns out, it wasn't just a "road rage incident."

Hate crime added to charges in beating of Sikh man in Darien

Last week in the Chicago suburb of Darien, 53-year-old Inderjit Singh Mukker, who wears a turban and a beard in observance of his Sikh faith, was viciously beaten in his car after being called "terrorist" and "Bin Laden" and told to "go back to your country." He was repeatedly punched in the face and lost consciousness.

State's Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced that his office has filed an amended juvenile petition to include one count of hate crime, a Class 4 felony, in addition to the five counts of aggravated battery. The decision was made after further investigation and the discovery of additional evidence in what was previously described as a "traffic altercation." Public outcry over the missing hate crime charge probably didn't hurt either.

No hate crime charges in attack on Sikh man

Inderjit Mukker was repeatedly punched in the face and called "terrorist" and "Bin Laden"



In Illinois, charges have filed against the teenager who brutally beat a 53-year-old Sikh man last week, calling him "terrorist" and yelling "Go back to your country, Bin Laden!" However, inexplicably, the assailant is not being charged with a hate crime. Prosecutors are calling the incident a "traffic altercation." The hell?

Charges filed against Willowbrook teen in Darien beating

The 17-year-old assailant, who was not named by the state's attorney's office, is charged with five counts of aggravated battery for the "traffic altercation," in which he punched Inderjit Mukker multiple times in the face last Tuesday evening in the Chicago suburb of Darien.

Mr. Mukker, who wears a turban and beard in observance of his Sikh faith, was on his way to the grocery store when another driver began yelling at him, calling him a "terrorist" and "Bin Laden." After repeatedly cutting off Mukker's vehicle, they pulled over to the side of the road. The other driver got out of his car and repeatedly beat Mukker in the face, knocking him unconscious.

How is this not a hate crime?

Sikh man called "terrorist," assaulted in hate attack

"Go back to your country, Bin Laden!"



I'm sorry for posting this upsetting photo, but I have to. This week in Chicago, a Sikh man was attacked in his car and violently beaten by an assailant who allegedly yelled "Terrorist, go back to your country, Bin Laden!"

'Terrorist, go back to your country,' attacker yelled in assault of Sikh man

53-year-old Inderjit Singh Mukker, who wears a beard and turban in observance of his Sikh faith, was driving to the grocery store in the Darien suburb of Chicago on Tuesday night when another driver pulled up to his car yelling racial slurs. The assailant then reached into Mukker's car and repeatedly punched him in the face.

Mukker lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital, where he received treatment for a fractured cheekbone, bruising and blood loss and six stitches for the lacerations on his face.

Disney accused of segregating Sikh employee

Gurdit Singh was barred from delivering mail in view of Disney World guests because of his turban and beard.



In Orlando, a Sikh American employee of Walt Disney World, who claimed his delivery routes were restricted and hidden from public view of Disney visitors because of his religious appearance, has won the right to have the same routes as other delivery workers.

Disney Allows Sikh Worker to Show Turban and Uncut Beard

Gurdit Singh, a mail carrier at Disney World, wears a turban and unshaved beard in accordance of his Sikh faith, which allegedly violate Disney's strict grooming guidelines, known as "The Disney Look." Because of his appearance, Singh says he was segregated from co-workers, denied career advancements and barred from delivering mail through Disney's resorts and theme parks in view of guests.

Osama's Ghost on Streets of America

By Vishavjit Singh. Cross-posted from Sikhtoons.



The article below was rejected by a diverse array of news outlets. One explained "there is not enough of a new story here." A film-maker acquaintance shared similar struggle pitching an idea along the theme of this article sometime ago. Potential funders responded with "Racism against Sikhs and the use of the 'O' word is so cliched and overdone." Apparently we Sikhs need to find ourselves being targeted in innovative ways for being news worthy! So here is the same old news for you. If it moves you, share it, comment on it, share your experience, make it your news.

Osama Bin Laden has been dead for over 3 years.

But his ghost lives on and quite responsive to news events of jihadi flavor.

As our new streams fill with the advance and images of ISIS in Iraq, the ingrained countenance of the Saudi who personified hate at its worst in his living days finds outlets in the most unlikely of places.

Sikh and Muslim families file discrimination complaint against go-kart track

Company policy bars attendees from wearing religious head coverings



In California, five families of Sikh and Muslim faith claim they were discriminated against at a popular amusement park when they were barred from riding go-karts because of their religious head attire.

Livermore: Sikh families claim discrimination at Boomers go-kart track

The families have filed multiple public accommodation complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing against the Boomers! amusement park chain. The complaints, filed by United Sikhs and CAIR-CA, allege violations of California's Unruh Civil Rights Act based on Boomers! unwillingness to permit park attendees wearing religious head coverings from riding Go-Karts.

Both Muslim and Sikh park attendees have repeatedly been denied access to the rides.

Love Letters to Turbaned Captain America

Guest Post by Vishavjit Singh



A few weeks ago I received a love letter. Not the paramour kind but one with moving affection for my alter-ego. An Afghan war veteran had just discovered my pics from the Captain America in a Turban photoshoot on the streets of New York City. She felt compelled to share her response.

I have been receiving similar letters for months since the pictures went public last September. The overwhelming warm reception has been life affirming for me in turn inspiring What I learned as Captain America in a Turban.

Turbans continue to elicit intense visceral reaction in the American narrative. For many it is still synonymous with the 'other.' I got a rude reminder of this a few days ago as I was about to turn a street corner getting home in New York City.

As I passed a group of high schoolers a voice trailed me, 'Osama.' I turned and asked the young boy, "You think I am Osama?" He denied saying it. I said, at least have the courage to say it on my face. I told them here you are stereotyping me based on my looks. How about if someone responded to their looks with, "Illegals! Go back to your country."

He responded with an apology which I accepted. But not before educating them about where I come from and there being much more to life than meets the eye. He apologized again.

I returned home a little annoyed reminding myself why I had walked out as Captain America on the streets of New York City last summer and even more energized for my artistic endeavors.

In the spirit of Robert Louis Stevenson's words, "Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others," I present to you a sampling of love letters to a Turbaned Captain America from fellow Americans.

My Favorite Racist Costumes From the Fun World Catalog

Not too early to start thinking about your racist Halloween costume.



Last week, Walmart pulled a Osama bin Laden-themed Halloween costume from its website under pressure from members of the Sikh community who say the product is offensive to 9/11 victims and perpetuates stereotypes and spreads further ignorance about turbans and beards: Osama Bin Laden Halloween Costume Removal Demanded By Sikh Advocacy Group In Letter To Walmart And Amazon.

In letters to Walmart and Amazon, the Sikh Coalition -- the largest Sikh American advocacy organization in the United States -- requested removal of the product, saying the costume "perpetuates negative stereotypes about turbans and beards that have led to violence and discrimination against Sikhs and other minorities."

Think that's bullshit? Tell that to Prabhjot Singh, the Sikh Columbia University professor was assaulted last weekend in a violent hate crime, by attackers who called him "Osama" and "terrorist."

The Turban & Beard Instant Costume is manufactured by Fun World Costumes, which makes outrageous outfits of all varieties, including the super-fun racist ones. I skimmed through the Fun World website's wide selection of Halloween costumes, and picked out just a few of my racist favorites:

Yet Another Hateful Act Against Sikhs: Mississippi Judge, Cops Harass and Unlawfully Detain Sikh Man

By Rohin Guha. Cross-posted from The Aerogram.

Not all hate crimes necessarily involve bloody noses and broken jaws. Some combine the one-two punch of hateful language and government-sanctioned bullying. What happened to Dr. Prabhjot Singh in Manhattan last Saturday is terrifying — and his ability to recover with grace is inspiring. A little bit trickier to parse is the Sikh man in Mississippi who earlier this year was harassed, humiliated, and arrested by several police officers and a judge in that state. We'll tell you now that this one at least ends with a little bit of justice.

In January of this year, Jageet Singh (no relation), a commercial truck driver, was pulled over for a flat tire by several cops. They then proceeded to mock him for his appearance, searched his vehicle without just cause, and even tried to get him to remove his kirpan -- laughing when he explained the significance of the article in the Sikh faith. Eventually, they arrested him -- not for the kirpan or even for the flat tire, but for "disobeying an officer." When Singh returned to Mississippi in March 2013 for a court date, he was waiting in the back of the courtroom for his attorney to arrive and was again accosted by four highway officers who told him to leave. They were acting on the orders of Judge Aubrey Rimes who wanted Singh ejected because he "didn't like his turban."

But wait, it gets better.