Claim: Human rights expert said – discrimination against Sikhs increased in America, urged US lawmakers to end it

Eminent human rights expert Amrit Kaur Aakre has told US lawmakers that religious discrimination and hate crimes against the Sikh community in the US have increased in recent years. Also, he urged the administration and the US Congress to take steps to end it.

Aakre gave this information to members of the House Judicial Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties during a recent Congressional hearing on discrimination and civil rights. Aakre is the director of legal affairs for Sikh advocacy group ‘Sikh Coalition’.

He said that biased interpretation of government policies and laws harms Sikhs in transport, entertainment, health care, military and law enforcement and in public and private sector jobs. “Sikhs are sometimes ordered to cut their hair for work-related investigations,” he said.

Sheila Jackson and Jaipal also condemned
MP Sheila Jackson Lee said, “Sikh boys in America wearing turbans are called terrorists and girls are harassed for having long hair.” Many such children are also victims of violence. One of our studies revealed that more than 50 percent of Sikh children have faced harassment by other students in school. MP Pramila Jayapal has condemned it.

Eminent human rights expert Amrit Kaur Aakre has told US lawmakers that religious discrimination and hate crimes against the Sikh community in the US have increased in recent years. Also, he urged the administration and the US Congress to take steps to end it.

Aakre gave this information to members of the House Judicial Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties during a recent Congressional hearing on discrimination and civil rights. Aakre is the director of legal affairs for Sikh advocacy group ‘Sikh Coalition’.

He said that biased interpretation of government policies and laws harms Sikhs in transport, entertainment, health care, military and law enforcement and in public and private sector jobs. “Sikhs are sometimes ordered to cut their hair for work-related investigations,” he said.

Sheila Jackson and Jaipal also condemned

MP Sheila Jackson Lee said, “Sikh boys in America wearing turbans are called terrorists and girls are harassed for having long hair.” Many such children are also victims of violence. One of our studies revealed that more than 50 percent of Sikh children have faced harassment by other students in school. MP Pramila Jayapal has condemned it.