ABSTRACT

In the days, months, and now years following the events of September 11th, 2001, discrimination against the Sikh community in America has escalated sharply, due in part to a populace that often confuses Sikhs, compelled by their faith to wear turbans, with the Muslim extremists responsible for the devastating terrorist attacks. Although Sikhs have since mobilized to spread awareness and condemn violence against themselves and Muslims, there has been a conspicuous absence of academic literature to aid scholars and commentators in understanding the effect of the backlash on the Sikh community. This volume provides a unique window onto this particular minority group's experience in an increasingly hostile climate, and offers a sharp analysis of the legal battles fought by Sikhs in post-9/11 America. In doing so, it adds a new chapter to the ongoing national story of the difficulties minority groups have faced in protecting their civil liberties in times of war.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

part I|52 pages

Sikhism and the Sikh Turban

chapter 1|2 pages

Punjab: The Sikh Homeland

chapter 2|10 pages

Founding and Early Development of Sikhism

chapter 3|10 pages

Fighting Against Injustice

chapter 4|12 pages

Sikh Migration to the West

chapter 5|4 pages

Contemporary Sikh History

part II|48 pages

Targeting the Sikh Turban

chapter 7|6 pages

Harassment

chapter 8|6 pages

Bullying of Sikh Students

chapter 9|8 pages

Violence

chapter 10|8 pages

Profiling

chapter 11|8 pages

Employment Discrimination

chapter 12|4 pages

Detention

chapter 13|4 pages

Denial of Entry into Public Places

part III|44 pages

Marginalization of the Sikh Turban

chapter 14|6 pages

France

chapter 15|6 pages

Britain

chapter 16|4 pages

Ireland

chapter 17|4 pages

Other Western Nations

chapter 18|6 pages

Canada

chapter 19|14 pages

United States

part IV|52 pages

The Response to the Post-9/11 Climate

chapter 20|10 pages

The Human Costs

chapter 21|16 pages

The Emergence of Sikh Advocacy

chapter 22|6 pages

Non-traditional Efforts

chapter 23|2 pages

Government Appeals for Tolerance

chapter 24|16 pages

Federal Enforcement and Outreach