US judge apologizes to Sikh for asking to remove turban
Yudhvir Rana
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ing-to-remove-turban/articleshow/22501926.cms
AMRITSAR: A US judge has apologized to a Sikh youth for asking him to remove his turban in the courtroom.
Giving details of the incident, International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy, United Sikhs - a Sikh NGO - spokesperson Manmeet Singh told TOI on Wednesday that Hardeep Singh, a resident of Battle Creek, Michigan, was accompanying his friend to a hearing in the Kalamazoo Country Probate court on October 16, 2012 when he was asked to "remove his hat".
Manmeet said that all attempts made to explain that it wasn't a "hat" but a Sikh turban were halted by the judge. The judge asked Singh to either remove his "hat" or leave the courtroom, following which Hardeep left the courtroom. After the incident, United Sikhs' legal team filed a civil rights complaint with the department of justice after which the judge apologized to Hardeep.
"We are humbled to announce another civil rights policy advocacy victory resulting in the modification of court procedures in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, to recognize the Sikh religious practices," the NGO said.
Yudhvir Rana
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ing-to-remove-turban/articleshow/22501926.cms
AMRITSAR: A US judge has apologized to a Sikh youth for asking him to remove his turban in the courtroom.
Giving details of the incident, International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy, United Sikhs - a Sikh NGO - spokesperson Manmeet Singh told TOI on Wednesday that Hardeep Singh, a resident of Battle Creek, Michigan, was accompanying his friend to a hearing in the Kalamazoo Country Probate court on October 16, 2012 when he was asked to "remove his hat".
Manmeet said that all attempts made to explain that it wasn't a "hat" but a Sikh turban were halted by the judge. The judge asked Singh to either remove his "hat" or leave the courtroom, following which Hardeep left the courtroom. After the incident, United Sikhs' legal team filed a civil rights complaint with the department of justice after which the judge apologized to Hardeep.
"We are humbled to announce another civil rights policy advocacy victory resulting in the modification of court procedures in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, to recognize the Sikh religious practices," the NGO said.