Sikh denied entry in NZ club for wearing turban
Friday, 19/06/2015
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
MELBOURNE: A 30-year-old Sikh working in New Zealand was barred from a club because of his turban, prompting him to lodge a complaint alleging religious discrimination with the human rights commission.
Gurpreet Singh, a real estate agent, was not allowed to enter the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club in Auckland for lunch with colleagues as he breached the club’s no-headwear policy. “We tried to explain to club staff that the turban was part of our faith and not something I could take off,” Gurpreet was quoted as saying by The New Zealand Herald.
“But they said no, we have this policy and we are sticking to it. Instead of arguing we just left,” Gurpreet said.
“I don’t know whether it’s being racist or ignorance, but what they did left me shocked and insulted. I was embarrassed by the incident,” Gurpreet said.
A complaint was lodged on Wednesday of religious discrimination with the Human Rights Commission. He had been in New Zealand for seven years and this was the first time his turban had caused problems, it reported.
“Turbans are recognised in New Zealand as a cultural item. If we go for a passport, or drivers’ licence, or to the bank, we’re allowed to wear the turban,” Gurpreet added.
“It’s just the standard rule we’ve had in our club for the past 50 years. It is to stop people coming in with beanies, with caps, with hoodies and this sort of stuff,” said John Stevens, president of the club.
The club’s policy has been labelled “ignorant” by the president of the Manukau Indian Association, Veer Khar, who said: “They need to get more educated.”
According to the club manger, Patricia Rangi, it is their policy to ban entry to all people wearing headgear, including those wearing it for religious reasons.
Gurpreet said he did not think a club or restaurant should be different and the policy needed to be changed.
This is not the first time when the club’s no-headwear policy came into conflict with religious groups.In 2009, another turbanwearing Sikh, Karnail Singh, was barred from entering the club for the same reason.
