Photo: Kerim Friedman (flickr)
Sikhs have witnessed a rise in hate crimes in the nearly 10 years since September 11.
In March, two elderly Sikh men were shot while taking an evening stroll. Surinder Singh died at the scene and Gurmej Atwal died six weeks later.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Sikhs have reported a rise in bias attacks, both verbal and physical, against them. The backlash that hit Muslims across the country has expanded to include them and their faith as well, with some assuming the sight of a long beard and turbaned head can only mean one thing.
The Sikh community believes people are uninformed about their religion.
The faith, which originated in the Indian region of Punjab, draws from Hinduism and Islamic Sufism and the faithful believe in karmic cycles of rebirth, similar to Buddhists — and adherents stress that Sikhism is a distinct and separate religion.
If crime against Sikhs appears to be against Muslims, federal officials classify the crime as “anti-Islamic.”
Read More: Post-9/11, Sikhs say they are mistaken targets (Associated Press)