Showbiz / Couple Jailed for Ripping Off Sikh’s Turban

Couple Jailed for Ripping Off Sikh’s Turban

Showbiz Jul 18, 2013

by Anokhi Admin

Sikhs have faced racism all around the world. As Quebec Soccer Foundation’s execs are apologizing for their polemic and controversial decisions, Angeline Kim Sollitt, 44 and Michael John Arbouin, 40 were sentenced for 9 months in prison for maliciously attacking taxi driver, Jagroop Singh.

On June 15, The Quebec Soccer Foundation (QSF) announced that it’s “deeply sorry” and has reversed its ban on wearing turbans or any religious headwear on the pitch. At a recent news conference, QSF executive-director Brigitte Frot told CBC, "We have had trouble communicating our intentions to the public, especially in recent days. "If we offended or shocked people — particularly in the English community — we want you to know that it wasn’t intentional and we want to make a sincere apology for that."

According to Zee News, Sollitt began abusing Mr. Singh when he picked her and four others up from the Dina Beach Yatch Club in Tippery Waters, Darwin in October last year. Using abusive slurs, she began to insult and said to him, "You are in Australia, mate, this is not your country. If you want to live in Australia, take this off.” Although Singh kept calm and continued driving, the moment he pulled over on Tiger Brennen Drive to let him out of the cab but the abuse and attack continued. Sollitt screamed, “grab his turban, rip it off." Sollitt then attempted to remove it and managed pull the religious headgear leaving him in a shock. When he tried to call for help, Arbouin bullied him, “, "You see what happens with your turban? Now I'm going to rip your hair off".

Mr. Singh commented on the incident, "The turban is a symbol of faith. I only care that these people insulted my religion".

During the sentence hearing, Justice Stephen Southwood called these incidents “unprovoked” and “malicious.” He said, “The turban is the crowning glory of the Sikhs. For Sikhs, the head and the turban are sacred – they must not be touched or insulted in any way. “The concept of Sikhism includes universal acceptance of all humanity, belief in one God and the equality of all persons irrespective of their caste, colour, gender, nationality and religion.”

Sikh Children Protesting For Turban

Since the bombing of the U.S. World Trade Center 2001, racism has been rampant against the Sikh community in Australia. They have faced harassment and racial abuse especially due to mistaken identity issues but have handled it as calmly as possible. Sikhs have faced racism all around the world. Since 9/11, attacks against them have also increased all around North America. Last year, two attacks took place in February and August in Sterling Heights, Michigan and Oak Creek, Michigan. In the first incident, a gurudwara (Sikh temple) was found vandalized with a graffiti that included a gun and hateful references to 9/11. In the latter incident, a gunman is shot dead by police after opening fire during the prayer session that took the lives of six men and women.

_{Feature Image & Source: Jagran

Sources: Huffingtonpost, Zee news, SikhInterfaithvic.org, CBC and Dayandnightnews}

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Couple Jailed for Ripping Off Sikh’s Turban

by Anokhi Admin

Sikhs have faced racism all around the world. As Quebec Soccer Foundation’s execs are apologizing for their polemic and controversial decisions, Angeline Kim Sollitt, 44 and Michael John Arbouin, 40 were sentenced for 9 months in prison for maliciously attacking taxi driver, Jagroop Singh.

COMMENTS

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