Italy: Sikhs no longer have to remove turban

New Delhi, Jun 4: Sikhs travelling to Italy will no more have to undergo the trouble of removing their turbans for security checks at airport, said the Italian interior ministry, on Friday, Jun 2 after his meeting with the foreign minister, SM Krishna and Franco Frattini, his Italian counterpart in Rome.

The head turban will be treated and accepted as a symbol of religion, when Sikhs will be photographed for identification cards at Italy in local police stations. Officials call this as a "big achievement".

Krishnan who is touring Rome to participate in the celebrations of Italy's unification expressed his concern over the treatment that Sikhs got and asked them to be treated respectfully.

There would be no more checks of the Sikh turbans at airport said the Interior Ministry, Italy.

Amritinder Singh, the coach of golfer Jeev Milkha Sigh had to remove his turban while boarding a flight to Sicily which led a series of protest from people in India. The matter was then taken up by the government to the Italian authorities.

Frattini and the officials during discussions came up with idea that Sikhs would be given a separate room with a mirror to remove their turbans and would not be asked to remove their turbans in public. This was earlier done in washrooms.

Italy has the second largest population of Sikh's after United kingdom.

OneIndia News