Italy: India Protests Removal Of Sikh Turban
By VOA
The Indian government has protested demands by Italian airport officials that a world-class golfer’s Sikh coach remove his turban during security screening.
Indian Foreign Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna condemned the searches on Wednesday, saying Indian religious practices must be respected.
After discussing the incident with Indian officials, Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte expressed his deep regret.
Amritinder Singh, who coaches golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, was forced to remove his turban twice within a week at the Milan airport.
Baptized Sikhs are obliged to keep their beards and hair uncut, and to wear a turban.
Sikhism was founded in the 15th century in what is present-day Pakistan, but most of its more than 25 million adherents live in India’s Punjab state.