Confusing Sikhs With Muslims In the United States

[Tennesseer]

Mistaken For Muslims, Sikhs Hit By Hate Crimes

Turbans worn by dead man and wounded friend may have made extremists think they were Muslims

WEST SACRAMENTO, California — The daily stroll had become routine for two elderly Sikh men in a Sacramento suburb, as well as for neighbors and friends accustomed to seeing the men walk by with their long beards and turbans.

But the traditional headwear might have singled them out late last week when they were gunned down, one fatally, in what police are investigating as a suspected hate crime.

On Monday, local religious leaders pleaded for the community to come forward with leads but also said they will not be deterred by violence.

"Our community will continue to wear our turbans proudly," said Navi Kaur, the granddaughter of Surinder Singh, 65, who died from his wounds.

His friend, 78-year-old Gurmej Atwal, remains in critical condition.

They were walking through their neighborhood in Elk Grove, just south of the California state capital Sacramento, Friday afternoon when someone in what witnesses described as a pickup truck opened fire.

Police said they have no suspects nor any indication the shooting was a hate crime, but said the turbans could have made the elderly men a target of extremists.

During a news conference Monday at a Sikh temple, a spokesman said the recent violence has scared some temple-goers into concealing any indicators of their religion.

Sikhs often are mistaken for Muslims and have been the subject of occasional violence across the country since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"The enemies of the United States don't wear turbans in the United States," said Amar Shergill, a Sikh leader and attorney. "They don't want to be singled out. The result is that Sikh Americans since 9-11 have borne the brunt of violent hate crimes."

More: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41962756/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Just what we need....

[Deleted]

"Police said they have no suspects nor any indication the shooting was a hate crime, but said the turbans could have made the elderly men a target of extremists."



That aside, people should make sure their targets are real Muslims before they shoot them.

[billisonboard]

Mar 8, 2011 13:12:31 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

I just read this article at lunch. Tragic. As it would have been were Muslims targeted. Or Christians. Or Burmese.

Or human beings.

[workpublic]

Police said they have no suspects nor any indication the shooting was a hate crime, but said the turbans could have made the elderly men a target of extremists.


so there is no proof that they were mistaken for muslims in the article.

Sikhs often are mistaken for Muslims and have been the subject of occasional violence across the country since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.


what's the point of this wishy washy statement? does that mean the "occasional violence"(of what magnitude? shoving or vivisection) that "often" happens is diminishing or growing?

how can it be tied to make anti liberals look stupid and violent

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Doesn't California have gun control? How is it possible to murder someone with a gun in a state that has strict gun control laws? I, for one, am mystified.

I'm confused about something else, too...Why are we assuming that the shooter was an extremist targeting muslims, when we can't even admit that the islamic radical that cried, "allah akbar" and shot our airmen on the bus in Germany was a terrorist?

Now, before you think I'm arguing with you, I'm not. When a shooting with no apparent traditional motive happens like this-- it's basically a drive-by with the shooter in a pick up truck, you'd be a fool not to at least consider that the victim's identity, and the profile of drivers of a pick up truck likely points to a hate crime.

I'm simply arguing here that common sense cuts both ways.

And I would further argue that unless or until it becomes apparent that the government is engaged in the most important, and one of the few Constitutional duties it has-- the defense of our nation, and specifically a comprehensive war against islamic extremism in the United States, anarchy and chaos will be the result. In short, if the government doesn't start shooting the real extremist revolutionaries, it makes it easier for already unstable people to rationalize violence against muslims, or those they percieve to be muslim. In short, putting up a serious fight against islamic extremists will protect EVERYONE, including peaceful muslims and people from nationalities, races, and religious backgrounds that might otherwise be targeted.

[Tennesseer]

Mar 8, 2011 13:16:32 GMT -5 workpublic said:

Police said they have no suspects nor any indication the shooting was a hate crime, but said the turbans could have made the elderly men a target of extremists.


so there is no proof that they mistaken for muslims in the article.

Read the rest of the article for more information regarding other incidents. The supposed rule here is not to post too much of an article. Link the rest of the article.

[billisonboard]

Mar 8, 2011 13:18:02 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Or human beings.

Well yeah, that was kinda my point Bill.

I thought it was exactly your point and well stated for most here. I just thought I would help the others.

[workpublic]

some people are POed at the sikhs that they live around. to say that attacks on sikhs are because of ignorant mistaken identity is a stretch.

this looks like plain old culture clash(what some call racism at every chance) that is embedded in the human makeup.

[ed1066]

Elk Grove is a very dangerous area. This is an unfortunate crime, but I see no evidence it was based on anything other than the tragedy of random violence. Also, for those who may not know, it is very, very common for Sikh and Punjabi Indians to be out walking the streets. In neighborhoods where there are a lot of them, they are out walking at all hours in small groups and sometimes alone. In a hood like Elk Grove, this can unfortunately be dangerous. It may be that they were just convenient targets for a maniac looking to commit a murder. I pray they catch the perpetrator(s) and bring them to justice...

Also, it would be in law enforcement's best interest not to speculate on motives or reasons for crimes. It invariably makes them look ultimately incompetent...I don't know why they continue to do this...

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

I read the article, I get your point. However, the obvious conclusion the writer wants the reader to come to is that it was a hate crime, or else why, as wp pointed out, throw it out there like that? And frankly, MY point is that the police would be foolish not to consider it. It's not apparently a crime of passion-- a drive by shooting. It's not a robbery. So, what's the motive? We all have the luxury of being totally open minded, but the police have to investigate a crime. Guessing as to motive is their job.

[steff]

In short, if the government doesn't start shooting the real extremist revolutionaries,

*********************************

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

What's so hard to understand about what I posted. In a war, you shoot the enemy. You keep shooting the enemy, and/or alternately breaking their stuff, until they surrender.

[steff]

Again, do you not realize what it sounds like when you call for our govt to begin killing all muslims?

[marjar]

Mar 8, 2011 14:27:53 GMT -5 steff said:

Again, do you not realize what it sounds like when you call for our govt to begin killing all muslims?

I think he knows exactly how it sounds.

[steff]

I think he knows exactly how it sounds

*********************

I don't want to be from the country that repeats that moment in history.... and it's downright terrifying that we have folks that want to do that...

[marjar]

Mar 8, 2011 15:09:38 GMT -5 steff said:

I think he knows exactly how it sounds

*********************

I don't want to be from the country that repeats that moment in history.... and it's downright terrifying that we have folks that want to do that...

Ayup.

[mmhmm]

While Muslims do occasionally wear turban-style headcovers, the turban is more often worn by Sikhs. Arab Muslim men are much more likely to wear a keyffiya. Under that will be found a kufi, which is a skull cap to keep the keyffiya in place.

[mmhmm]

Paul, if you're what represents conservative thinking, I think I'll draw even further away. Yours is a confrontative, destructive, and downright bigoted way of thinking, IMO.

[marjar]

When my kid was a senior in high school, a year after 9/11, she was dating young man who was half Indian and half Caucasian. He was the victim of much nastiness because people thought he was Middle Eastern. He was born in this country, as was his mother.

[ed1066]

When my kid was a senior in high school, a year after 9/11, she was dating young man who was half Indian and half Caucasian. He was the victim of much nastiness because people thought he was Middle Eastern. He was born in this country, as was his mother

That's messed up. When I was in third grade, I was bussed to a majority black elementary school in a public school "integration" experiment. I got beat up several times, presumably for being white. Sometimes life is like that...

[Mad Dawg Wiccan]

Mar 8, 2011 13:29:09 GMT -5 @ed1066 said:

Elk Grove is a very dangerous area. This is an unfortunate crime, but I see no evidence it was based on anything other than the tragedy of random violence. Also, for those who may not know, it is very, very common for Sikh and Punjabi Indians to be out walking the streets. In neighborhoods where there are a lot of them, they are out walking at all hours in small groups and sometimes alone. In a hood like Elk Grove, this can unfortunately be dangerous. It may be that they were just convenient targets for a maniac looking to commit a murder. I pray they catch the perpetrator(s) and bring them to justice...

Also, it would be in law enforcement's best interest not to speculate on motives or reasons for crimes. It invariably makes them look ultimately incompetent...I don't know why they continue to do this...

Like almost any city, Elk Grove has some bad areas, but it's hardly a ghetto. It is mostly nice, and also has some very up scale neighborhoods.

[mmhmm]

Heh. A Saudi friend of mine came to the US to attend a conference in Houston. A lot of people he met outside the conference area thought he was Mexican. As long as he didn't open his mouth, he got along just fine. ;D