Popular Sikh actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia was barred from boarding a flight on Monday morning after he refused to remove his turban for a security check.
Ahluwalia, who was on his way to New York Fashion Week, told Daily News that he was stopped for security screening and asked to remove his turban.
"That's not something I would do in public. That's akin to asking someone to take off their clothes."
Ahluwalia shared the following image of with his plane ticket on Instagram
Ahluwalia said he asked to be taken to a private screening room, but was denied.
“I was shaking at first,” he said. "That's not a nice thing to be told, that you are not allowed to fly on this plane because of something you are wearing, or because of your religious beliefs,” he was quoted.
"About the situation of passenger Waris Ahluwalia, Aeromexico reports that he was asked to submit to screening and inspection before boarding, in strict compliance with TSA protocol. We have offered the passenger to alternatives to reach his destination as soon as possible. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by this incident," the airline said in a statement given to Huffington Post.
Ahluwalia, who has appeared in 17 films, including “Inside Man,” "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and “The Darjeeling Limited,” has been a target of attacks due to his appearance before. Gap billboards featuring Ahluwalia were vandalised in a New York subway.
