NEW YORK: Transportation Security Administration ("TSA") Administrator Kip Hawley contacted the Sikh Coalition directly on Thursday saying the TSA would like to find a "workable solution" to Sikh community concerns even it may mean "changing" new screening procedures. The Sikh Coalition said it welcomes Hawley's message as a positive step forward.
Hawley's message to the Sikh Coalition emphasized that TSA is open to suggestions on how security needs can be met in a "respectful, non-intrusive fashion." He noted that Sikh concerns over the new headwear screening procedures are being addressed at the highest levels. He also said that he understands the sensitivity and importance of Sikh community concerns over the new procedures.
Hawley's message to the Sikh Coalition was in direct response to the Coalition's community petition on the issue. The Sikh Coalition said: "We thank all those who have signed the petition. We encourage more people to sign it. Each person who signs the petition is making a difference."
The spokesperson said: "While the Sikh Coalition looks forward to working with TSA, along with its Sikh and non-Sikh partners, to devise screening procedures that keep America safe and open to all faiths, the disputed screening procedures still remain in effect. This means that Sikhs may be subject to pat down searches of their turbans at airports or even removal of their turbans at the discretion of a TSA screener."
Earlier in the week, the Sikh Coalition called on people to sign a community petition to the TSA raising concerns with new airport screening procedures that effectively target Sikh turbans for heightened airport inspection. In addition, the Sikh Coalition called on all Sikhs to document their experience with the new airport headwear screening procedures.
The Coalition said: "We also call on all Sikhs to document their experience with the new screening procedures. Since the TSA refuses to share details of the new procedures with the public, we will not be able to effectively raise concerns about their impact on Sikhs without learning of the community's experience with them. Please take five minutes to document your airport screening experience now."
With the information made available to us, the Sikh Coalition said it has four principle concerns:
"First, the Coalition is concerned that the TSA guidance on how to implement the policy specifically lists the turban as an example of headwear that can be subjected to secondary screening at the discretion of the screener. We believe that the most precious article of our faith has become part of a government-mandated profile of a person who is a terrorist threat.
"Second, the Coalition believes that the new procedure should not be kept secret. It is critical that the procedures be made public so that the millions of air travelers subjected to them understand their rights while traveling.
"Third, the procedures are disturbingly vague. Screeners have personal discretion to subject a Sikh to additional screening, a turban pat-down, or to remove the turban. With 43,000 TSA screeners nationwide, and minimal cultural competency training, the Sikh Coalition is concerned that this will lead to religious profiling.
"Fourth, the Coalition is concerned that the new procedures were created without consulting any Sikhs or Sikh organizations to determine if safety concerns could be met without compromising religious freedom."
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