This travel season, we also urge all Sikhs to report if they are denied the opportunity to pat-down their own turbans to resolve alarms. TSA Agents may claim that rules require them to touch your turban or patkas;
Since 2012, thousands of travelers have visited the FlyRights website, which allowed them to file official complaints with the TSA. Without your reports, other Sikhs traveling may be subjected to incidents of profiling; thanks to your feedback, we can continuously work to identify which airports require further training. The Sikh Coalition remains committed to holding the TSA accountable, both through these continued educational efforts and our broader advocacy, including
testimony on Capitol Hill this past June.
Finally, note that some travelers have reported that they experience less secondary screening with enrollment in the
TSA Pre✓® program. Additionally, you can request copies of our
“The Sikhs” educational brochures before you travel internationally. This free resource is available in 18 different languages. To get free printed copies of this or any other resource, please email
contact@sikhcoalition.org.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.