MP told to remove turban by U.S. airport security

After reviewing video, TSA expresses regret — but doesn’t apologize Navdeep Bains says he’s going public about the disturbing incident to raise awareness of discrimination.

OTTAWA— A Toronto-area cabinet minister says he’s going public about a disturbing encounter with airport security guards at a U.S. airport to raise awareness about discrimination.

Navdeep Bains, the MP for Mississauga—Malton and minister of innovation, science and economic development had already passed through security at the Detroit airport in April 2017, when guards demanded that he remove his turban.

“Discrimination knows no borders,” Bains said in an interview Thursday.

“Ultimately, what is important for me is that it could happen to anyone, happen to any Canadian. It was important for me to raise this issue, to talk about it,” he said.

Bains, who is Sikh, wears a turban and, on Parliament Hill, he’s known for his selection of brightly coloured fabrics. Though he flies frequently for his cabinet responsibilities, this was the first time he had faced such a demand.

“I felt awkward. I felt very frustrated. But I was very calm,” Bains said.

The Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. agency that oversees airport security, says passengers wearing head coverings for religious reasons can keep them on but “may be subject to additional security screening.”

The incident was originally reported by La Presse. Bains said he faced an initial request to remove his turban at the security checkpoint that was resolved when it was swabbed. He was waiting at the gate when he was approached by a security guard who demanded again that he remove his turban.

“There was acknowledgement why I wear the turban and this is part of my faith,” Bains told the Star.

Bains said he told security staff, “Look, you’re doing your job when it comes to security. I understand and respect that. I just want to make sure the proper process is being followed.”

Until that point, Bains said, he had been using his regular passport. But he then pulled out his diplomatic passport when asked to confirm his identity. It was only then that security staff backed down from their demand and subsequently apologized.

“They acknowledged that an error had been made. They regretted it. They apologized and I accept that apology,” Bains said.

The Transportation Security Administration, in a statement released Thursday by assistant press secretary Michelle Negron, said it reviewed security videos and found the officer checking Bains didn’t follow procedure and has since received training.

The written statement did not include an apology.

“We regret the screening experience did not meet the expectations of Mr. Bains,” the agency said. “When possible, passengers may remove non-formfitting headwear before proceeding through the security checkpoint. We recognize that passengers may be unable or unwilling to remove items for religious, medical, or other reasons, and should expect to undergo additional screening protocols.”

Canadian officials expressed concern about the incident with their U.S. counterparts, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters in Washington Thursday.

“We heard about the difficulties that Minister Bains had encountered at the border. My officials spoke with U.S. officials about the situation and expressed Canada’s perspective,” Freeland said.

“I thought that was important for us to support Minister Bains and frankly support all Canadians travelling across the border,” she said.

Bains said he faced a similar demand over the Christmas break, when he and his family were at the airport in Antigua returning from vacation. “They asked that I remove my turban before I even went through the metal detector,” Bains said.

Bains said the two incidents provide an opportunity to talk about “diversity and inclusion.”

“It doesn’t matter who I am, if I’m a cabinet minister, what my background is, what my profession is, what my status. It’s about making sure everyone is treated with respect,” Bains said.

“This happens to so many people … discrimination exists everywhere and I think we have to talk about it, we have to acknowledge that it exists and then we have to find ways of addressing it,” he said.