(New York, New York) May 25, 2007 - A Sikh high school student's hair was forcibly cut in a hate attack yeterday afternoon at a high school in Elmhurst, Queens the Sikh Coalition learned from police investigators today.   The Queens County District Attorney's office has charged one student with hate crimes as a result. 

Yesterday's incident occured in part as a result of a verbal disupte that escalated and led to two students forcing the Sikh student into a bathroom, removing his turban, and forcibly cutting his hair. According to police, the Sikh student was "cowering in the corner" as his hair was forcibly cut.  The police said that the Sikh student's hair, which used to be below his waist, is now at shoulder level.  The boy's mother and the boy are both very distressed.

The Coalition commends the Hate Crimes Taskforce of the New York City Police Department for its prompt investigation of this matter.   The Sikh Coalition is working with its community partners in New York City to determine an appropriate response to this horrible incident.  The Coalition will also independently review why Queens County prosecutors declined to prosecute two other students who were arrested as a result of the incident.   We will update the community as this matter develops. 

The Coalition calls on all Sikhs to stand up for their civil rights and fearlessly maintain their articles of faith.  If you or anyone you know is a victim of discrimination, please report it as www.sikhcoalition.org/ListReports.asp.

Started as an effort to educate the greater North American community on Sikhs and Sikhism, the Sikh Coalition seeks to safeguard the civil and human rights of all citizens as well as to promote the Sikh identity and communicate the collective interests of Sikhs to civil society. The Coalition serves as a resource on Sikhs and Sikh concerns for governments, organizations and individuals.

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