Do you think it is an insult for security to ask you to take off your religious headwear?

Question

I just saw in the news that security may ask men to remove their turbans at airport screenings. I think this is sacriligious! I wonder if they would ask the Jewish men to do the same with their yamakas. What are your thoughts on this?

It is not the same as an article of clothing! You can't even compare the two!

Answer 1

This is a tough question...
Where do you put religious rights? over security or is security more important than rights infringement.

If a simple metal detector 'wanding' indicates something underneath a turban, then I would expect the passenger to be escorted to a private room to remove it.

If there was no beep from the wand, then let them go.

Answer 2

There are ways to see this, this is not a situation where your expression is jeopadized, it is a security in question. The person who is asking you to remove it is doing his job effectively to take care of all those who are traveling. A yamaka is too small in diameter i think. Its a matter of safety for all. You are aware of all the things that are happening, change happens when something bad happens, Yes because of some others have to suffer, any act that causes sufferings to other human being is surely bad.

Answer 3

No, I don't think it's an insult. While I don't wear shoes for religious reasons, I still have to remove that piece of clothing every time I go through airport security. There comes a time when we have to realize that our safety is a higher priority than a religious custom. If it is possible something could be concealed by a piece of clothing or outer wear, then it needs to be inspected.

I believe in religious tolerance, but this is where I draw a line.

Answer 4

God is not going to throw you in Hell for removing your turban/headscarf for a few minutes in the interest of the security of hundreds (if not thousands) of other human beings.

If God throws people in Hell for taking off their turban/headscarf for a few minutes, that is not a God that deserves to be worshiped. I say this as a practicing Muslim.

Religious people need to stop taking offense to every single thing that life throws their way. Get with the times and be a World Citizen first.

Answer 5

let ME PUT IT THIS WAY. suppose a man who is not a sikh wears a turban and boards a plane with an explosive device and blows away a plane load of sikhs, would you change your mind about checking turbans?
Just getting (or even worse, pretending) sensitive or angry shows primitiveness and raises needless suspicion.

Answer 6

Sacrilegious is an interesting word. Literally means the stealing of what is sacred to god (or religion).

So yes it is sacrilegious but then I don't think that's a bad thing. Just because somebody thinks something is very important to them doesn't mean that they should get special treatment.

Answer 7

To be purely objective here, there are things you can hide in yards and yards of fabric that you obviously cannot hide in a tiny circle of cloth.

However I do think the entire situation is spiraling out of control.

Answer 8

I know many years ago, security was authorized to do a full-body search if they had suspected of foul play... so... to you it may seem as an insult, and I can understand... but, consider a person being stripped nekkid etc...

Answer 9

Personally, I don't like to remove my shoes...you can pick up all kinds of things from walking on a floor where other people have walked barefoot. But...if I want to fly, I have to deal with it.

There are alternative modes of travel, if they don't want to remove something to have it checked, they can pick a different way to get there.

Answer 10

If they detect metal under a turban, a yarmulke or a tophat for that matter, HELL YES they had better make the person take it off. Safety first.