13 hours later, Sikh Hollywood actor Waris Ahluwalia still stuck at Mexico airport
New York based designer cum actor Waris Ahluwali on Monday claimed that he was denied to board the flight from Mexico city to New York because of his beard and turban.
New Delhi, February 9, 2016 | Posted by Shraddha Jandial | UPDATED 12:16 IST
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/13-hours-later-sikh-hollywood-actor-waris-ahluwalia-still-stuck-at-mexico-airport/1/591162.html
Indian-American Sikh designer Waris Ahluwalia, who was denied boarding an AeroMexico flight bound for New York from Mexico City because he was wearing a turban, is still stuck at the airport. "13 hours later. Still in Mexico City. No traveler should be subjected to what I was," Ahluwalia tweeted.
Update. 13 hours later. Still in Mexico City. No traveler should be subjected to what I was…https://t.co/nJrlaUFOBf— HOUSEofWARIS (@HOUSE_of_WARIS) February 9, 2016
New York based designer cum actor Waris Ahluwalia on Monday claimed that he was not allowed to board the flight from Mexico city to New York because of his beard and turban.
When Ahluwalia showed up at the gate to board Flight 408 to New York City, Ahluwalia said, attendants told him he needed to step aside and wait for other passengers to board.
After they did, his feet and bag were searched and swabbed, he was told to remove a sweatshirt and he was patted down, New York Times reported.
Then, he said, he was asked to take off his turban. "I responded...that I won't be taking off my turban," he said in an interview Monday afternoon from the airport in Mexico City.
"And then they talked amongst themselves and they said, 'OK, then you are not getting on the flight.'" He said he was told by another airline security official that he would not be boarding any other Aeromexico flight until he met their security demands.
"It is a symbol of my faith," Ahluwalia said, explaining why he would not remove the turban.
"It is something that I wear whenever I am in public." A statement released by the airline said that Ahluwalia's screening was in compliance with Transportation Security Administration protocol and that the airline had offered him alternatives to "reach his destination as soon as possible". It gave no further details but added that it regretted the inconvenience.
A United States based civil rights NGO, The Sikh Coalition has expressed shock over the incident calling it "shameful", and has employed lawyers who are in constant touch with Ahluwalia.
Ahluwalia said he had no immediate plans to board another flight.
Sikh Hollywood actor stopped from boarding NY flight in Mexico City
Ahluwalia was trying to fly from Mexico City to New York City this morning, when Aeromexico stopped him from boarding the flight due to his "appearance".
February 8, 2016 | Posted by Manish Kumar Pathak
In a shocking act of racial discrimination, Hollywood actor, Waris Ahluwalia, was denied the right to board a flight because of his turban and beard.
Ahluwalia was trying to fly from Mexico City to New York City this morning, when Aeromexico stopped him from boarding the flight due to his "appearance".
Ahluwalia who dons many hats is a jewellery designer, a retailer, an actor and a model.
A United States based civil rights NGO, The Sikh Coalition has expressed shock over the incident calling it "shameful".
"I'm always the one to get singled out and searched," The New York Times in its December 2013 article had quoted Ahluwalia, as saying.
This is not for the first time that Ahluwalia has been targeted in the US. In December 2013, his Gap ad was defaced in a subway station with slurs like "Please stop driving taxis."
Ahluwalia is known for his role in movies like The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), The Darjeeling Limited (2007) and Inside Man (2006), among others.
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