Sikh student detained by Secret Service(7 Hours for Taking Campus pics)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/07/30/sikh_student_detained_by_secret_service/

A Boston College student leader who wears a turban and full beard in accord with his Sikh religion says he was detained and interrogated for seven hours Saturday night by Secret Service agents for doing nothing more than taking photographs of the campus.

Sundeep Sahni, a senior with a double major in computer science and finance, said the Secret Service agents, who were staying on campus during the Democratic National Convention, suggested that he was a criminal, searched him and his car for weapons and bombs, and even had him sign a release form during the ordeal that gave them access to his psychiatric records.

Sahni, 21, said he believes he was singled out because of his appearance. At one point during the searches, he said, an agent told him: "I don't want you pulling an Uzi from your turban."

"It was the most humiliating experience of my life," Sahni said.

[pinniped]

1. Lucky he wasn't carrying the traditional Sikh knife.

You would never see him again.

[AlecBGreen]

11. damn right

if he pulled this little baby out...



his ass would be rotting @ Gitmo.

[Xipe Totec]

2. I Met Iranians In College

A long time ago, when they still called themselves Persians. I remember one guy in particular. Tall, curly blond hair, green eyes, captain of the soccer team. The ladies just swooned over him. Frankly, until he opened his mouth, you couldn't tell whether he was Anglo, German, Swedish, Italian, Irish... You get the picture.

The point is that, if there really are Al-Qaida operatives in the US gathering information for another attack, they're not going to be going around with a turban on their head, a scimitar in one hand, and a camera on the other.

And to pick on a guy just because he looks different isn't going to make this country any safer. At best it is ineffective, at worst it is making potential friends into bitter enemies.

I'm preaching to the choir, I know.

But I can't help it. This kind of bigoted over-reaction just pisses me off.

[mom cat]

7. Wonderful post! Welcome to the DU family. Watch out though.

This site can be very addictive. :hi: :yourock:

[Window]

15. Exactly.

Welcome to the fabulous DU!

[Dying Eagle]

3. Explain to me....

If you were a Arab Terrorist would you have on a Turban and have a long beard?

No, You would have on a Red Socks Cap, Blue Jeans, Nike shoes, Nike T-Shirt and would make yourself blend in as well as possible.

Who are these dumb fucks in the secret service? IF only the ones protecting * were as stupid as these racist assholes!

End of Rant!

[progressivebydesign]

9. If we all recall... the 9/11 hijackers wore oxford shirts and khakis..

.. they looked like clean cut, all american guys. You're totally right.. a terrorist would never call attention to themselves that way. This is so similar to that poor photo student detained for photographing the Locks in Seattle.

[hippywife]

4. I guess there's a new law now...

no one of brown skin can now own or use a camera.

Photographing while non-Anglo. :eyes:

[gratuitous]

5. Oh, this is so NOT discrimination!

Y'all are saying that just because this guy had a beard and wore a turban. They would have questioned anyone taking pictures on the campus. Anyone with swarthy skin. Anyone with a suspicious beard. Anyone with a funny-sounding name. Anyone at all -- Muslim, Black, Hispanic, Indian -- they're all entitled to the same treatment.

Now, if your name is Mindy, and you have straight blonde hair, take all the pictures you want! We know someone that cute, that Aryan and that blonde would never e-e-e-e-ver be a terrorist. (Terrorists, please don't try to confuse us by recruiting cute blonde women. Thank you for your cooperation.)

[teryang]

6. "We can do whatever we want"

This is statement of a veteran agent recently recruited to a high paying job at homeland security.

There are no rights. There are no checks and balances.

[stevedeshazer]

8. Rampant ignorance of Sikhism

These people are some of the least likely to be behind acts of terror.

http://www.sikhs.org/summary.htm

Sikhism

A progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

<snip>

Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.

[truthspeaker]

10. I don't think Islamist extremists like Sikhs at all

Secret service agents should know better.

[JI7]

12. Sikhs and Muslims don't get along all that well

in places like the united kingdom the sikhs and hindus do not get along with muslims much. in america there is more acceptance of differences though.

[htuttle]

14. If you see someone wearing a turban in the United States

There's about a 99.9% chance they are Sikh, not Muslim. Most Muslims do not wear turbans, and the ones that do wear them wear turbans that are distinctly different than Sikh turbans.

[mbperrin]

13. Hmm...be a Sikh, got to jail for pics; white kid from Virginia

who makes death threats, write an essay!

For alleged White House threat, teenager gets writing assignment

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x727616

Seems fair, don't it?

[Rose Siding]

16. The SS may do as it likes

To anyone. Their attitude in this is at least as frightening as "terrorism"- more so to my way of thinking.

snip>
A Secret Service spokesman, however, said there will be no such meeting or apology.

"During the course of the DNC, law enforcement is in a heightened state of awareness in response to suspicious activity," Secret Service spokesman Charles Bopp said. "He was interviewed, and our security concerns were addressed. The case is closed. There are no charges; there is no further investigation."