Posted on 06/06/2005 6:16:38 PM PDT by bayourod
He falsely claimed he was jumped by five thugs who cut off his hair
Members of the Lower Mainland Sikh community are calling for charges to be laid against a 17-year-old Sikh youth who made up a story that he was attacked by five thugs who beat him up and cut off his hair. But one immigration expert says criminal charges aren't the answer.
Richmond RCMP reported Saturday the youth staged the attack, injuring himself and cutting off his own hair. The young man confessed to police when they reinterviewed him Friday evening, according to an RCMP press release.
The release gave no explanation for the youth's actions, and RCMP could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The Sikh code of conduct instructs that Sikhs must keep their hair unshorn, but some young people don't want to wear turbans, said Joginder Singh Sidhu, president of the Canadian Singh Sabha Sikh temple in Surrey.
Don DeVoretz, co-director of Simon Fraser University's immigration studies centre, said although he doesn't know the family's situation, he thinks the incident is a "dramatic case" of the pressure immigrant children face from their traditional parents.
"It's an intergenerational issue here, you know, it's not just with the Sikhs," he said in an interview Sunday.
Meanwhile, members of the Sikh community raised concerns on the weekend that the fabricated attack caused fears about hate crimes.
"I think it's really tragic that somebody would trivialize the whole issue of racism or racial violence in the community," Shinder Purewal, a Sikh instructor at Kwantlen University College, said in an interview Sunday.
"I'm hoping -- and there are many in the community who hope -- the RCMP lay some charges against the boy and hopefully also against the family."
Purewal said the young man's family must have known the story was made up, and they should have to pay back the costs of the RCMP investigation. "Dealing with my kids, I would know, I'm a parent," he said.
The youth reported to police that he was attacked in an elementary schoolyard on May 26.
As of last Wednesday, several RCMP officers were working full-time on the case, as were members of the hate crimes unit, Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said.
Sidhu said he would also like to see the boy charged.
"I have no answer why would he do that, but what he did is very shameful. Not only for him but it makes us shameful as well," he said. "It's criminal. You can't deny that."
But he doesn't blame the boy's parents. "They must be ashamed now. I really feel sorry for them, because it's not their mistake," Sidhu said. "He bears the whole blame for this."
DeVoretz was more sympathetic toward the boy. "I think it's a real tragedy for the young fellow. He must have felt in an awful position to do this."
Charges against him would be inappropriate, he said. "He needs help, he doesn't need more police action."
The conflict between generations occurs in many areas of life for immigrant children, said DeVoretz "It's not only about hairstyles -- it's about religion, it's about intermarriage."
He sees many ethnic students in his economics classes who aren't suited to the field but feel they can't study what they want because their parents won't allow it. "I think that these [things] go on in all the communities."
I agree. And it's sad that their youth are being corrupted by mainstream "hipness".
After 9/11, when news reports were popping up of idiots who attacked Sikhs because they thought they were Muslims, some of the NYC taxi drivers got bumper stickers which read "Proud to be an American and a Sikh", for the benefit of violence-minded dimwits.
This kid is Sikh.
Never had a Sikh employee, but have done business with Sikh owned businesses and have always been very fairly dealt with, unlike some other groups. Sikh are not Muzzies, not even close.
Here we are...the minority community thinks the boy should be held accountable...and the police-types think he should be let off.
I agree..
Have met, worked with, and had business relationships with a number of Sikhs.
To a man, they have been trustworthy, dedicated, educated, modest and honest...
I generally refrain from attributing characterists to an ethnic group -- but with the Sikhs, you're safe in assuming you're dealing with a competent and honest gentleman..
This jerk kid must be the exception that proves the rule.
Please note it was HIS community of Sikhs that wanted him charged!
Semper Fi
Does anyone else think this sounds like the runaway bride story? Wasting police and community time and resources.
BTW, Little Orphan Annies' bodyguard was a Sikh. They are a warrior class and are required to carry a knife at all times. Historically they protect the nonviolent Hindu from the Muslims.
BTW, Little Orphan Annies' bodyguard was a Sikh. They are a warrior class and are required to carry a knife at all times. Historically they protect the nonviolent Hindu from the Muslims.
The kid probably was forced to wear their awful halloween costumes, and hates it.
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