Indian diplomat detained in U.S. for refusing to remove turban in new airport security gaffe

Daily Mail ^ | December 13, 2010

[rightwingintelligentsia]

A diplomatic row between the U.S. and India has deepened after it emerged that a second dignitary was subjected to an invasive security search at a U.S. airport. India's UN envoy Hardeep Puri was detained for more than 30 minutes in a holding room at Houston Airport, Texas, after refusing to remove his turban.

The Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna today said: 'We have taken it up with the U.S. authorities and the matter is at that stage.'

Sikh men are expected to keep their heads covered in public at all times and turbans are only to be removed in the most intimate of circumstances, or when washing. It is even forbidden to touch the head dress in public as it symbolises self-respect, honour, and piety. India has reportedly lodged an official protest through its Consulate General in Huston with the U.S. authorities.

[Hulka]

Absolutely not much, in real terms. I had one when on active duty and traveled internationally a lot.

It identifies you as an “official” traveler on US government business. Kind of gave you a veneer of “respectability” (if that is the right word), and usually the guys at immigration left you alone and didn't ask purpose of your trip (plainly it was for US government business), didn't ask what you were doing and why.

Oh, and it did get you into places where the usual “tourist” passport could not because of some sort of travel restriction or limitation.

[James C. Bennett]

Nice!

[Hulka]

Yeah. . .kind of like “James Bond Lite.”