More Than 12 Teens Almost Killed Him. What He Wants To Do With Them Is Most Humbling
A Columbia University professor who wrote about hate crimes against Sikhs have become a victim of one himself when 12 to 15 teens attacked him while shouting anti-Muslim slurs.
By Sadho Ram — 24 Sep 2013, 05:26 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
Mob beats up Sikh professor in New York, calls him Osama
Dr Prabjhot Singh, a Sikh American professor at Columbia University, was attacked by a group of 15 to 20 men while with a friend in Harlem, New York. He is in hospital with a broken jaw and facial injuries.
in.comPrabhjot Singh said he was walking on 110th Street and Lenox Avenue at around 8 p.m. Saturday when he was confronted by more than a dozen teens on bicycles who shouted slurs before attacking him.
He suffered injuries to his face, including displaced teeth and a possible fracture in his lower jaw, as well as severe bruising and a small puncture on his elbow, the coalition said. Singh was treated and released from Mount Sinai hospital.
cnn.com'I got punched directly in the face about three times'
'I got punched directly in the face about three times,' says Prabhjot Singh, shown Sunday after he was beaten up by a group of young men near Central Park
Image via nydailynews.comSingh believes he could have died if passersby hadn't helped get the teens off him
Singh believes he could have died if passersby hadn't helped get the teens off him. "There's no doubt in my mind it was a bias-related event," he said.
nbcnewyork.com
The attack, he says, makes him worry that his 1-year-old son, "who will certainly resemble a Sikh man," will face similar hatred as he gets older. "My fear is that they'll disappear into the neighborhood," he said of the assailants.
cnn.comThe New York Police Department said it is investigating the incident as a hate crime
The New York Police Department is investigating the case as a possible hate crime, a classification that helps track such incidents nationally leading to better law enforcement.
hindustantimes.comThe Sikh professor says if he could speak to his attackers he would invite his attackers to Gurdwara
The Sikh professor has said he would invite the attackers to visit the Gurudwara and interact with members of the community to better understand his faith.
Prabhjot Singh said it is "absolutely critical" to work with students and community organisations to spread awareness about other faiths and religions.
"If I could speak to my attackers, I would ask them if they had any questions, if they knew what they were doing. Maybe invite them to the Gurudwara where we worship, get to know who we are... Make sure they have an opportunity to move past this as well"
What is a Gurdwara?
A gurdwara meaning the gateway to the guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs; however, people of all faiths are welcomed in the Gurdwara.
A gurdwara meeting place has no specific design. Gurdwaras may be surrounded by fountains, or have a moat used by pilgrims for bathing. There might be a flag marked with the emblem of the Sikh coat of arms.
The gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib is seen and a Langar where people can eat free food. A gurdwara may also have a library, nursery, and classroom.
On August 5, 2012, a man fatally shot 6 people and wounded 4 others in a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in US
Apart from the shooter, all of the dead were members of the Sikh faith. The temple was preparing langar, a Sikh communal meal, for later in the day.
President Barack Obama offered his condolences, calling the Sikh community "a part of our broader American family," and ordered flags at federal buildings flown at half-staff until August 10 to honor the victims. Obama called for "soul searching" on how to reduce violence.
About Sikhs in USA
The United States is home to about 700,000 Sikhs, nearly all of Indian origin. The men often wear beards and turbans, a tradition that's lasted for 500 years.
cnn.comBut the attire and appearance have also meant that they are often mistaken for Muslims, and Sikhs have become targets of anti-Islam attacks.
financialexpress.comSince 9/11, the Sikh Coalition reported more than 700 attacks or bias-related incidents against Sikhs, including the fatal shooting of six people at a Sikh temple last year outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
cnn.comThe coalition also cited beatings of Sikhs across the country after the victims were taunted about their turbans or subjected to racial slurs. Sikhism, the world's fifth most popular religion, is a monotheistic faith that believes in equality and service to others
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