Hearing of the Appeal: Court Case of Sikh Harassment by the Polish Border Guard, Warsaw

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 11, 2013 - Over a period of 18 months from Aug 2009, the Border Guard  persistently and repeatedly harassed Sikhs passing through  Polands airports, demanding that they remove their turbans  for the security check. In all other airports of the world  before making such a demand the security personell conduct  non intrusive checks with metal detectors and hand pat downs. But ot in Poland.

Enraged by this obvious assault on the human dignity of  Sikhs. Shaminder Puri, supported by the Helsinki Foundation  of Poland took the Komandent of the Polish Border Guard to  Court.

The ruling in the lower Court was astonishing in its  insensitivity - the Judge ruled that protection of human  rights was not assured in this Case.
Puri and the Helsinki Foundation appealed to a higher  Court.

In Feb 2013 the EU issued its update to the Regulation on  airport security checks taking full account of the Court  Case and the campaign led by Sikh organisations. The Regulation clarifies that there is no need to demand turban
removal.

In particular the EU Regulation "respects the fundamental  rights and observes the principles recognised by the  Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,  notably the human dignity, the freedom of religion"
The above regulation flies in the face of the Ruling in the  lower Court.

Sikh organisations supporting the Case of Puri vs. Polish  Border Guard are hopeful that in the Appeal Court, sense  will prevail and the previous unjust ruling will be over turned.

The case will be heard in the Appeal Court on the 12th Feb 2013 at 13:30 hrs Warsaw time.