Country's transportation minister urging European colleagues to look at hand search alternatives
By Hindustan Times
Updated: 04-28-2011 11:06 am
London, April 27 -- The British Government wants airport security staff to stop searching Sikhs' turbans using their hands.
Transport Minister Theresa Villiers said she would also be writing to her counterparts in Europe to ask them to look at alternatives to searching turbans by hand as it is deeply offensive to Sikhs.
European rules say any Sikh who triggers a security scanner alert should remove their turban or have it searched by hand.
She further said that Sikhs found this offensive, The Daily Star reports.
Villiers said the Government had successfully argued with the European Commission to allow for an 18-month trial at 22 British airports, which would see officials using metal detectors and special swabs to detect explosive materials.
"Our aim is to reach a solution which avoids public hand searching or removal of the turban," she said. Published by HT Syndication with permission from Asian News International. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
http://www.securityinfowatch.com/node/1320733
By Hindustan Times
Updated: 04-28-2011 11:06 am
London, April 27 -- The British Government wants airport security staff to stop searching Sikhs' turbans using their hands.
Transport Minister Theresa Villiers said she would also be writing to her counterparts in Europe to ask them to look at alternatives to searching turbans by hand as it is deeply offensive to Sikhs.
European rules say any Sikh who triggers a security scanner alert should remove their turban or have it searched by hand.
She further said that Sikhs found this offensive, The Daily Star reports.
Villiers said the Government had successfully argued with the European Commission to allow for an 18-month trial at 22 British airports, which would see officials using metal detectors and special swabs to detect explosive materials.
"Our aim is to reach a solution which avoids public hand searching or removal of the turban," she said. Published by HT Syndication with permission from Asian News International. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
http://www.securityinfowatch.com/node/1320733
