The Sikh Coalition is urging its members to be vigilant as it fears a repeat of what happens after 9/11 as the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan dominates world news, reports Indica News.
The Coalition received reports of 300 incidents of harassment, discrimination and violence against Sikhs in the month after 9/11.
Although there’s little connection between Sikhs and the Taliban, the two are often connected together by physical attributes such as beards and head coverings.
The Sikh Coalition together with the World Sikh Organization in Canada is urging the community experiencing such hate to immediately report it to law enforcement and perhaps most importantly, seek safety.
The group also has a reporting form. Victims can also receive free and confidential consultation (available in both English and Punjabi) by calling 212-655-3095.
They also have a FAQ dealing with both hate crimes and hate speech.
“The Sikh Coalition’s Legal Program has assisted numerous Sikhs who have unfortunately been subjected to hate crimes. We continue to be available as a free legal resource to advise you of your rights, navigate the criminal justice system, push for hate crime investigations/prosecutions where appropriate, and in some cases, provide free legal representation,” the FAQ states. “We have also worked with the criminal justice system in creating innovative restorative justice models to help rehabilitate the hate crime offender and help him/her build a positive relationship with the Sikh community. We are diligent about protecting your rights when an incident of hate occurs and remains the Sikh American community’s insurance policy.”
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