'Attacks against Sikh students in NY schools'

A report says over 40% of Sikhs who wear turbans to schools have been subjected to some form of physical harassment.

Over 40 per cent of Sikh students who wear turbans to schools in New York have been subjected to some form of physical harassment, and a community group says that complaints to schools often go unheeded.

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The harassment has included hitting and punching, besides disrespectful touching of the head, said a report brought out by Sikh Coalition, a US based group.

The document, "Hatred in the Hallways: A Preliminary Report on Bias against Sikh Students in New York City's Public Schools," was released last week.

It found that three out of four Sikh boys who go to school have been teased or harassed on account of their religious identity.

Of 200 Sikh students who where surveyed, nearly a third said there was no response to their complaints to school authorities and nothing was ever done, according to information posted on the group's website.

"If we expect students to excel, they have to be given an environment free of fear and intimidation. The department of education ... (has) to understand that harassment does exist in schools. When administrators turn a blind eye to that harrassment, they in turn tacitly approve of even more harassment." New York city council member John Liu said after the release of the report.

Post 9/11, Sikhs in the US have been confused with Muslims and subjected to violent attacks.