Pakistani model barehead photoshoot at Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara triggers controversy

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, November 30

A Pakistani model has sparked controversary with her “barehead” photoshoot at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur that has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.

The model, Sauleha, later deleted the photos and posted an apology on her Instagram page.

On Monday, a clothing brand – Mannat Clothing – posted pictures of Sauleha, shot at Kartarpur Sahib, on their Instagram page. Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson Manjinder Singh Sirsa and other users shared the photos pointing that the model was bareheaded.

Such behaviour amp; act at pious place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is totally unacceptable!
Can she dare to do the same at her religious place in Pakistan?@ImranKhanPTI @GovtofPakistan shd tk immed action to stop this trend of treating Sri Kartarpur Sahib as picnic spot by Pak people pic.twitter.com/AwyIkmqgbC

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 29, 2021

Sirsa demanded strict action against those who misbehaved in religious places of the minorities in Pakistan. He stated that the model posing without covering her head inside the Gurudwara premises is akin to ‘beadbi’ or sacrilege.

Modelling bareheaded for ladies’ attire, in the premises of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at #KartarpurSahib in Pakistan, by a Lahorite woman, has several hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Further the pictures were uploaded on social media.@ImranKhanPTI @MORAisbOfficial pic.twitter.com/i5RX01kWGo

— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ رویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) November 29, 2021

Covering one’s head in a gurdwara is mandatory.

In her apology, Sauleha said that she did not intend to hurt anyone and the pictures were supposed to be a memory of her visit to Kartarpur Sahib.

“Recently I posted a picture on Instagram that was not even a part of a shoot or anything. I just went to Kartarpur to learn about the history and know about the Sikh community. It wasnt done to hurt anyone sentiments or anything for that matter. However, if I have hurt anyone or they think that I dont respect there culture. I am Sorry,” she wrote in her Instagram post.

Pakistan police have initiated a probe into the incident.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also said that the designer and model must apologise to the Sikh community.