Turban Touching U Turn

[Guest Wannabe Singh]

TURBAN TOUCHING AVIATION 'U TURN'

SIKHS MOVE CLOSER TO AGREEMENT ON AIRPORT SECURITY PROCEDURES THAT WILL FULLY RESPECT THE SIKH TURBAN

Thursday 1 July - In an unprecedented move the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Philip Hammond, moved quickly on Tuesday 29 June to issue directions to all UK airports to apply the pre-29 April procedure for Sikh turbans that prevents security staff from touching the turban. They have been directed to only use hand held metal detectors for Sikh passengers and Sikhs working at the airports until a solution can be found working with the Sikh community. Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), said: ‘The campaign launched less than 2 weeks ago has shown what Sikhs are capable of doing when they come together and our media, such as the Sikh Channel, encourage Sikhs up and down the country to exert pressure on MPs. For the Secretary of State to issue a directive to all UK airports on the eve of what was predicted to be a massive Sikh lobby that may have attracted around 1,000 Sikhs to the Houses of Parliament shows the power of lobbying.’ The Sikh Federation (UK) received a letter from the Secretary of State at around 5pm on Tuesday 29 June and the first sentence and last sentence of the letter make it abundantly clear that what made the UK Government change its mind were letters to MPs and the pressure on the Department for Transport. This was acknowledged yesterday by officials from the Department at a meeting to find a solution to the complication caused for Sikhs by the new EU Regulation on aviation security. The Ministerial decision resulted in the mass Sikh lobby being postponed at the last minute to allow time for the Department to find a long term solution not only at UK airports, but also across the EU. The letter from the Minister to the Sikh Federation (UK) dated Tuesday 29 June starts with: ‘Thank you for your note yesterday and your subsequent email last night’. There was also pressure from Federation media contacts, including the BBC and other mainstream media outlets, who contacted the Department about the lobby and issues raised by MPs. The pressure came to a peak on Monday that resulted in a change of direction. The last sentence of the letter from the Minister to the Federation states: ‘On this basis, I hope that you will no longer feel the need to pursue the lobby you have planned for tomorrow afternoon in Parliament.’ This contrasts with the very negative e-mail response from a Department for Transport official received last week by Dr Jasdev Singh Rai, one of the two faith advisers to the UK Government, that he shared with a select group at the weekend. If you compare this email with the response from the Secretary of State on Tuesday you can see why it has been referred to by the media as a U-turn by the Department following considerable political pressure. Yesterday the first meeting was held with Department for Transport officials that was positive and moved both parties closer to agreement on airport security procedures that will fully respect the Sikh turban. This demonstrates that had the Department consulted when the EU Regulation was being developed and also when considering implementation this situation could have been avoided. The two Sikh faith advisers should also rebuke the relevant Department when it fails to consult and inform the Sikh community as soon as possible otherwise there is a risk that the community will see them as part of the problem of inappropriate advice. Sikh representatives at the meeting were very clear that they were equally interested in security, but believed an acceptable solution could be found without security staff having to touch the Sikh turban. It became clear that the Department is keen to find a solution as soon as possible as the UK Government could be deemed to be in breach of the EU Regulation. The Sikh Federation (UK) were pleased a very short timetable has been agreed as this will allow a long term solution to be found for UK airports in a matter of a few weeks that the UK Government can then share and push with its EU counterparts that will help all Sikhs travelling out of airports throughout the EU. The solution put forward for the Sikh turban that the Department is considering is i) continued use of hand held metal detectors; and ii) the Sikh himself or herself touching their own turbans and having their hands swabbed to check for explosive material as practised in the USA. This could easily be implemented at all UK airports for turban wearing Sikh passengers and airport workers. It will be argued as representing ‘special screening procedures’ under the new Regulation that provide better security than security staff conducting hand searches as they do not have their hands swabbed for explosives. Where full body scanners are available and working (e.g. Heathrow) turban wearing Sikhs will have the option to use these scanners that identify metal and explosive material and provided there is no medical reason why they should not to use the scanner. As the standard letters to MPs indicated the planned lobby was also to get clarity from the Department on the right of Amritdhari Sikh passengers to wear a small Kirpan (blade up to 6cm) while flying. The initial response given to Dr Jasdev Singh Rai from the Department last week was offensive to say the least. At the meeting yesterday the Sikh representatives asked the Department to clarify its position on the Kirpan with respect to passengers with regards to the new Regulation. The Department agreed to put details on its web site about Amritdhari Sikh passengers being able to wear the Kirpan. However, the Department did not agree at this meeting to go as far as to state it would at this stage inform security staff at UK airports about this situation. Sikhs appreciate the Kirpan issue is a sensitive one for the Department in terms of the impression it may give to the general public who do not understand the significance of the Kirpan to an Amritdhari Sikh. However, the regulation does allow scissors and knives with blades up to 6cm so in principle there should be no difficulty in allowing Kirpans with a blade of up to 6cm, especially if they are worn discreetly under the clothes. The Department agreed to consider raising training standards for security staff at UK airports with regard to further understanding the sensitivity of Sikh articles of faith so this should make this a challenge that can be overcome. Many that were due to take part in yesterday’s lobby that was postponed are asking if the lobby will take place in a few weeks time as an acceptable solution needs to be found quickly for the Sikh turban not just in the UK, but across Europe. The Department must also be crystal clear on the right of Amritdhari Sikh passengers to wear a small Kirpan (blade up to 6cm). A spokesman for the Sikh Federation (UK) said a decision would be made next week on whether to have the lobby date moved to Wednesday 21 July. Gurjeet Singh National Press Secretary Sikh Federation (UK)