Sat Sri Akal to all who have read or replied to the blog. Thanks you also for the offers of help.
The help that is required is to disseminate the news to as many people as possible - so that they are aware that such a Case is being put forward in a EU Country. The issue of Sikh turban checks arose because of an EU Regulation that requires more stringent security checks at airports. Although there is nothing specific about turbans, or even about hats & caps, many of the European Country airport security services started demanding removal of head gear - this fair enough for hats & caps but not fair for Sikh Turbans for reasons that we all know.
The actions that we have been pursuing with the support of the Helsinki Foundation, a Human Rights NGO, are intended to bring into the EU Regulations a recognition that the Sikh Turban has to be treated as INTEGRAL Clothing that a person wears - in other words, if one is strip searched then a Sikh Turban will have to be removed for a check on a potential threat. While this may occur in 0.1% of passengers, it cannot be applied to 100% of SIkhs. There is no objection by SIkhs to undergo all the normal routine checks and no one denies this. Countries such as the UK do practice this - Turbans are checked by the use of hand held scanners passing over them - a perfectly acceptable approach.
The intention in the Court action in Poland to achieve the same standard as in UK.
If you are interested, please email me and I will send you a sample letter that can be emailed / faxed or posted to the Polish Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of the Interior, Mr Piotr Stachanczyk, who should be asked to better regulate the Airport Security Service - as it is under his Ministry that the Border Guard operates. It is also under his Ministry that the Polish Sikh Gurudwara has been established and provides services to the Sikh Community. His Ministry ihus more than familiar with Sikh, their traditions and the symbol of the Sikh Turban.
Poland is a tolerant and a progressive Country - unfortunately the Border Guard has many renegade officers - it is them that we might bring to justice - and in the process also gain legal recognition that Sikh Turbans can only be removed in situations where there is clear evidence of a potential security threat.
Sat Sri Akal
Wahe Guru ka Khalsa Wahe Guru ki Fateh