Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

Sikhs feel vulnerable, join with Muslims to combat backlash

Image
AP Chicago
Last Updated : Dec 14 2015 | 3:02 AM IST
Members of the Sikh religion are feeling more uneasy amid simmering anti-Muslim sentiment because many are being mistaken for Muslims.
But instead of distancing themselves, Sikhs increasingly are working with Muslims to combat hateful rhetoric and dispel misconceptions about their respective faiths.
Sikhism was founded in the 15th Century in part of what's now India. About a half-million of the roughly 27 million followers worldwide live in the US.
Observant men cover their heads with turbans and refrain from shaving their beards.
Pardeep Kaleka's father and five other Sikhs were killed in 2012 when a white supremacist opened fire at a temple outside of Milwaukee.
He says it doesn't matter whether a Muslim or Sikh is being targeted by backlash. He says Sikhs can't remain silent, standing on the sidelines.

More From This Section

First Published: Dec 14 2015 | 3:02 AM IST

Next Story