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Grand Jury indicts
schoolboy on 9 charges for
forcibly cutting
Sikh schoolboy’s hair in NY
WSN Network
Queens, NY: A
Grand Jury has filed an indictment against Umair Ahmed, a 17 year
old schoolboy, for forcibly cutting a 15 year old Sikh schoolboy’s
hair, accusing him of 9 charges, including coercion and menacing as
a hate crime and false imprisonment. Assistant District Attorney,
Michael Brovner told United Sikhs, “The indictment was filed today
of all the original 5 charges and 4 additional charges as hate
crimes. The defendant will be arraigned within the next few
weeks.”
United Sikhs
legal advisor Tejinder Singh said, “A Grand Jury of 16 people
believed the Sikh schoolboy and indicted the defendant not only of
the original charges but also of 4 new charges.
This case will now
proceed to trial. Cutting a Sikh’s unshorn hair, his article of
faith, is the most grievous assault that can be inflicted on him.”
At the request
of the District Attorney’s office, United Sikhs had arranged for Dr
Inder J Singh a, professor at New York
University
, to testify before the Grand Jury. Dr Inder J Singh, who has
authored several books on Sikhism and who is also a United Sikhs
director, gave evidence on the religious significance of unshorn
hair to Sikhs.
“United Sikhs
has been appointed by the Sikh schoolboy and his family to represent
him, since the incident took place in May. We assisted the Sikh
schoolboy to obtain a transfer to another school after the original
school said they could not guarantee his safety,” Tejinder Singh
said.
The Sikh
schoolboy’s mother, whose name is being withheld to protect his
anonymity, has expressed to her confidence in the criminal justice
system and strong belief that justice will be served.
According to the deposition of Detective Delvalle , on or about May
24th 2007 between 12.05 and 2.15 pm inside of 48-01 90th
Street, Newtown High School, County of Queens, State of New York,
A Singh (the victim is a minor and his name is being withheld, in
accordance to the protection afforded by the law), of the Sikh
religion, who was wearing a Sikh religious headdress over his
unshorn hair was approached by another student, Umair Ahmed who
stated: “I have to cut your hair”. A Singh protested to Umair Ahmed
saying cutting of his hair is against his religion. A Singh said
that Umair Ahmed showed him a ring with Arabic inscriptions and
said: “This ring is Allah, if you don’t let me cut your hair I will
punch you with this ring.” Umair Ahmed had a pair of scissors. A
Singh was asked by Umair Ahmed to go to the bathroom. A SINGH
refused to go to the bathroom with Umair Ahmed because he feared
that the latter would hurt him with the scissors. Once inside the
bathroom, Umair Ahmed said that if he (A Singh) does not remove his
head covering he would punch A Singh with his ring. A Singh then
removed his head covering under duress and pleaded to Umair Ahmed
not to cut his hair. Umair Ahmed did cut A Singh’s waist-length
hair, which he had never cut since birth, with the said scissors, to
the complainant’s neckline. Umair Ahmed then threw the cut hair
inside the toilet and on the floor. A Singh was in fear of physical
injury, annoyance and alarm during this incident.
Umair Ahmed has been indicted with the following offences arising
from the above-mentioned incident:
1. Menacing
in the second degree, as a hate crime ( 2 counts )
2. Unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, as a hate crime ( 2
counts)
3. Aggravated harassment in the second degree
4. Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree
5. Harassment in the second degree
6. Coercion in the second degree as a hate crime ( 2 counts)
26
September, 2007
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