Sikh couple asked to leave theater for wearing a kirpan

A Sikh couple was forced to leave a movie theatre in California for wearing the kirpan, a move which prompted them to seek an apology from the company, AMC Theatres, which runs the cinema complex.

 

AMC Theatres justified its decision, stating that it had banned weapons of any sort in its 347 theatres across the US and Canada.

 

"Our 'no weapons' policy prohibits guests from carrying weapons of any kind into our theatres. This national policy is for the safety and security of our guests and staff," it said.

 

However, undeterred, Manjot Singh, who was on a night out with his wife to watch 'Man of Steel' at AMC cinemas in Emeryville, California, has hired an attorney to sue the firm.

 

"Sikhs are unfortunately often the target of ignorance and discrimination in the US due to their unique appearance. But just like all other American citizens, Manjot Singh has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in all public accommodations," said Manmeet Singh of the United Sikhs, a Sikh advocacy group based in the US.

 

"What happened to this couple at the AMC Theatre in Emeryville singling them out because of Manjot’s appearance was inexcusable, and we want to make sure that this never happens again to another Sikh patron of the AMC chain," he said in a statement.

 

Manjot said he was forced to leave the theatre on June 22 after more than 10 humiliating minutes of being made to stand in the lobby.

 

"At no time did Manjot ever display his kirpan, sheathed or unsheathed," United Sikhs said, adding that a demand had been made to the theatre company to preserve and turn over the surveillance video from the incident, apologise to the couple and change its discriminatory policies targeting Sikhs.

 

In a statement, AMC Theatres, however, said, "The person in question was approached when our security team noticed the guest was wearing an approximately 5.5-inch unsheathed knife, in clear violation of our rules. We stand by our policy as this matter is about the weapon alone and not at all about religious freedom. The safety and security of all our guests and associates is our duty and responsibility and we take it very seriously."

 

 

The number of incidents of hate and discrimination against Sikhs in the US after 9/11 has increased significantly, with over 300 such cases reported so far, ranging from verbal harassment, physical attacks to even murder. A Sikh man, Avtar Singh was shot and wounded in Phoenix, Arizona and Balbir Singh was murdered in Mesa, Arizona just because they were wearing a turban.

 

Furthermore, a 51-year-old Sikh woman, Swaran Kaur, was stabbed twice in the head by two men who threatened to kill her. Swaran said she was attacked Sunday as she sat in her car on Mirmar Road in San Diego. Two men pulled next to her on a motorcycle, opened her door and allegedly yelled, "This is what you get for what you’ve done to us." One of the men also allegedly said, "I'm going to slash your throat." Swaran said she tried to protect herself but she was stabbed twice in the head. The men fled after hearing a car approach. No arrests were made.

 

In addition, on Mar 14, 2004 the Fresno Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) was vandalized. The vandals– spray-painted racist graffiti on the walls of Gurdwara Sahib. "It's not your country," brayed one crude slogan. But it most certainly is.

 

The 30,000 Sikhs who live in this part of the Fresno County are farmers, business owners, doctors and professionals. Many were born here – is this not their country? Others have been in the United States for many years, working hard, raising families, paying taxes, contributing to the community and obeying the law.

 

The only difference appears to be how Sikhs look, and ignorance of the turban. The heartless attack of 9/11 was an attack not just on America, but an attack on humanity. Humanity has been battered not only because of what these terrorists do, but also as a result of hate crime against Sikhs and others. Such crime is of serious magnitude when hard-working, law-abiding people are beaten, harassed and sometimes murdered just because of the way they look.