Ignorance leads to Islamophobic attack on Sikh man

The Independent reports that a Sikh man had his turban ripped from his head while he was queuing outside Parliament.

Police are investigating the alleged racist attack against Ravneet Singh, 37 from Punjab, India, who was about to enter Portcullis House to meet with Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi.

He reported that he was approached by a “white man” as he waited in line who shouted “Muslim go back” before trying to remove his turban from his head.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Singh said: “I was in the queue outside Portcullis House and this guy ran up to us. Just before we got to the entrance he came up to me and attacked me.

“He was pulling at my turban strongly. It half moved and I grabbed it. Before he could do anything else I shouted at him and he ran.

“He made a racist comment in another language that I didn’t recognise.  He was a white man, but he didn’t sound English. He said something like ‘Muslim go back’”.

Mr Singh was in the UK on a three-week trip to discuss his work for an environmental group, which included a meeting with the Labour MP for Slough, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi.

Mr Dhesi said he was “disgusted that someone filled with hatred tried to pull off the turban of one of my guests” and called on police to take “urgent action”.

No arrests have been made, but the police’s enquiries are ongoing, with the Met police force confirming that the incidence was being treated as a hate crime.

As the attack occurred due to Mr Dhesi being perceived as a Muslim by the assailant, the attack is classed as an Islamophobic hate crime.

Prejudicial attacks against those perceived to be Muslim has been noted previously.

In 2015, Zack Davies was given a life sentence for attempting to murder Dr Sarandev Bhambra in revenge for the murder of Lee Rigby.

Dr Bhambra’s brother, Dr Tarlochan Singh Bhambra, said: “Sarandev was singled out because of the colour of his skin”.

It is important that anyone who believes they are in immediate danger from a prejudice-based hate crime should contact the police as soon as possible on 999. If not in immediate danger, or if you have suffered a prejudice-based hate crime in the past, then you can report it using the non-emergency number 101.

You can also – in addition to the police – report any Islamophobic hate crime to MEND’s Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU) here. This allows us to monitor levels of abuse and compile accurate data on the levels of Islamophobia.

The IRU can also help you contact and deal with the police (if you choose to do so), and signpost you towards free legal advice and emotional support that may be available.