North Carolina Church Demands Sikh Remove Turban Before Donating to the Poor

Gary Khera, went with his wife to the Union Mission in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina to give money to charity. The church, however, told him to take off his religious turban while inside the mission — Sir, you have to take your turban off. This is the United States. The Church stands by the demand that religious headwear have the same status as a baseball cap. A typical turban, or dastar, (as shown left) should not be removed by a religious Sikh.

Khera is a U.S. citizen. He is also a religious Sikh and wanted to give to the poor.

Florence Williams, the mission’s in-take director, stopped him upon entering and Rev. Ron Weeks, executive director of the mission, supports her, insisting that, since the mission has a chapel inside, the entire building “the Lord’s house.” A sign in the lobby states the policy against hats or other headwear inside.

Weeks insists “We have policy, and he didn’t want to abide by it . . . This was nothing to do with the turban, nothing to do with his faith.” Hmmm, it seems like it might have a little to do with his faith.

Weeks says that Khera (who he claimed became upset and made a scene) is not without options. They would still like the money but suggest that he mail it in or have his wife bring it in. I would not wait too long by the mailbox for this particular check.

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