[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17029-17030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         SIKHS ARE NOT MUSLIMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, in general I have been proud of America's 
response to the attack on our country that took place Tuesday. There 
have been no threats against the embassies of countries that might be 
involved. There have been no riots while the police have been 
concentrated in one particular area. However, there is one disturbing 
element. A number of Sikhs have been attacked by ignorant people 
seeking to vent their anger at what happened. In New York, an old Sikh 
man was beaten with baseball bats. A couple of young Sikhs were 
attacked Wednesday afternoon in Brooklyn. Sikh businesses have been 
stoned and cars have been burned. Apparently, these Sikhs were targeted 
because of their turbans and beards, which are required by their 
religion.
  It would be grossly unfair to attack Muslims, even though Mr. bin 
Laden, who appears to be the prime suspect, claims to be an adherent of 
the Muslim faith. I know many Muslims and they are good people who are 
not involved in this kind of activity in any way. Yet what makes these 
attacks even stranger is that Sikhs are not Muslims. They don't even 
wear a turban the same way. Sikhism is an independent religion. It is 
not part of Islam; it is not part of Hinduism. Sikhs are identified by 
five specific markers: uncut hair covered by a turban, a kirpan, or 
ceremonial sword, a bracelet, special underwear, and a special comb. 
These are distinct identifiers and are required by the Sikh religion.
  I call on the media to report on the attacks on Sikhs and note the 
fact that they are not connected to the terrorist campaign in any way 
and have, in fact, condemned it. I urge the media to speak out against 
the attacks, and I urge President Bush to do the same. Let's not attack 
anyone for his or her religion or the way he or she looks. Those who do 
so are cut from the same cloth as Mr. bin Laden. In America, we do not 
accept that.
  The Council of Khalistan, which is the organization representing 
Sikhs, has written a letter to the President and a press release 
strongly condemning the attack Tuesday. I would like to place them in 
the Record at this time for the information of my colleagues.

         Council of Khalistan Condemns Attack on United States


                       Urges Sikhs to Give Blood

       Washington, D.C., September 12, 2001.--Dr. Gurmit Singh 
     Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, today 
     condemned the brutal attack on the United States that 
     occurred yesterday.
       ``On behalf of the 21-million strong Sikh Nation and 
     especially on behalf of more than 500,000 Sikh Americans, I 
     would like to express our sadness and our sympathies to the 
     people of the United States for the terrible attack on the 
     United States yesterday and for the loss of life it 
     entails,'' Dr. Aulakh said.
       ``I urge Sikh Americans to give blood and to pray for the 
     victims, for their families, and for all those who are 
     helping our country and our communities in this time of 
     need,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``We must do our part as American 
     citizens,'' he said. ``We stand together as a nation.''
       ``Like all Americans and all decent people everywhere, we 
     condemn this brutal and senseless attack. The Sikh religion 
     recognizes all the human race as one and we pray for the 
     well-being of all. Our prayers and our sympathies are with 
     the people of the United States at this tragic time. We 
     especially pray for the families of those who have 
     departed.''
       ``This tragic event happened in the most diverse city in 
     the world,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``There is hardly a national or 
     ethnic group that has not been touched directly by this 
     tragedy. Our sympathies are extended to those who have been 
     touched personally,'' he said. ``Violence against innocent 
     people of any religion or ethnicity is unacceptable. It must 
     be ended.''
       Unfortunately, some people have engaged in violence against 
     Sikhs in the wake of the bombings yesterday. A couple of 
     young Sikhs were attacked in Brooklyn. Sikh businesses have 
     been stoned and cars have been burned. A Sikh boy was even 
     shot in New York.
       ``Today we all stand together as Americans, regardless of 
     race, religion, or ethnicity,'' he said. ``We must not accept 
     terrorism. We must unite against this evil,'' he said. ``We 
     must work to bring all Americans together to defeat this 
     brutal enemy.''


[[Page 17030]]


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                                         Council of Khalistan,

                               Washington, DC, September 12, 2001.
     Hon. George W. Bush,
     President of the United States, The White House, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the 21-million strong Sikh 
     Nation and especially on behalf of more than 500,000 Sikh 
     Americans, I would like to express our sadness and our 
     sympathies to the people of the United States for the 
     terrible attack on the United States yesterday and for the 
     loss of life it entails. This is a terrible tragedy and we 
     know that you will take appropriate action. Like all 
     Americans and all decent people everywhere, we condemn this 
     brutal and senseless attack.
       The Sikh religion recognizes all humanity as our brothers 
     and we pray for the well-being of all. Our prayers and our 
     sympathies are with the people of the United States at this 
     tragic time. We especially pray for the families of those who 
     have departed. May God bring peace to these departed souls 
     and to their families.
       We support you and we pray for the people of America. God 
     bless you and God bless America.
           Sincerely,
                                          Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,
                                  President, Council of Khalistan.

     

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