Canadian minister asked to remove turban at US airport
TORONTO :United States (US) officials have apologised to Canada after cabinet minister Navdeep Bains, a practising Sikh, went through a humiliating security procedure at an American airport in which he was asked to remove his turban.
While the incident took place in April 2017, the Canadian minister of innovation, science and economic development spoke about it only recently in an interview with the French language publication La Presse.
Bains was travelling back from the US after meeting the Governor of Michigan when he was stopped at the Detroit Metro Airport. He told media at an event in Toronto on Thursday that he had passed the metal detector test and there was a “challenge” while undergoing a swab test, but after that was repeated, he was allowed to go through. A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) official summoned him back again from the gate, stating proper protocol had not been followed as Bains had not removed his turban. He declined on religious grounds.
At that point, the minister showed them his diplomatic passport and was allowed to proceed. “Once they realised my position... I was ultimately allowed to fly. I understand how airport security is but proper process needs to be followed.” Bains described the incident as “very frustrating” and “unnecessary”. He said the issue “speaks to discrimination”.
His displeasure was communicated to US authorities, and Bains said, “I was fortunate to be in this position to raise this with my counterparts in the US. They obviously regret what happened, they apologised and I accept that apology.”
In a statement on Thursday by assistant press secretary Michelle Negron, TSA said it reviewed security videos and found the officer checking Bains didn’t follow procedure and has since received training. It did not include an apology. “We regret the screening experience did not meet the expectations of Mr. Bains,” it said. “When possible, passengers may remove non-form-fitting 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.”
This isn’t the first time a prominent Sikh has faced such screening at an American airport. In 2016, Canadian comedian Jasmeet Singh had to undergo such a search at San Francisco airport. In 2010, Hardeep Puri, then India’s permanent representative to the United Nations and now a minister in the Modi government, faced it at Houston.