Famous Sikh Actor Denied Entry to an AeroMexico Flight After Refusing to Remove His Turban Rob Wile - Fusion
go to original February 8, 2016

Update: Aeroméxico Apologizes to Waris Ahluwalia After Barring Him From Flying Because of His Turban (NYMag.com)

Waris Ahluwalia was just nominated by Canada’s Oscars for best supporting actor in Room. He’s appeared as the face of Gap clothing. And he’s launched his own design line. But he still can’t get on an airplane in Mexico.

On Monday, Ahluwalia, an American Sikh, attempted to board an AeroMexico flight back from Mexico City to New York City. He had been visiting for an art fair, and had in fact been flown down by AeroMexico as their invited guest.

But when he got to the security line Monday morning, he was flagged for extra screening. At first it was routine, he told me, with an extra trip through a metal detector and a baggage search.

But then the crew asked him to remove his turban. This, he said, was equivalent to asking someone to remove their clothing in public. When he refused, he was told he would have to book a flight on another airline.

“I’m resilient,” he said. “I know it’s not about me. It’s now about an opportunity to create change.”

Ahluwalia’s situation was flagged by human rights group The Sikh Coalition, and they were continuing to work with him and AeroMexico Monday.

Read the rest at Fusion

Related: The Racial Profiling of Waris Ahluwalia and Countless Others Is Wrong, Dangerous and Needs to Stop (NY Daily News)

Related: Waris Ahluwalia on the Aeroméxico Turban Controversy: ‘This Is an Opportunity for Change’ (The Cut)

Photo: Michael Loccisano

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