Sikhs decry media glare on beard sacrifice to cover PPE shortage

Sikhs across the world have spoken out against the glamorisation of Sikhs being pressured into shaving their beards, after recent major media releases on the topic.

First, on April 30 The Telegraph (UK) published an article which was originally headlined “Sikh doctor removed from front line after refusing to shave beard in PPE shortage”. After the Sikh Press Association reached out, the Telegraph team agreed to change the headline the next day to “Sikh doctor forced to leave front line in PPE shortage”.

The next day, the @ImpactMontreal Twitter account of the Impact Montreal football (soccer) team released a video depicting the plight of a Sikh doctor that decided to shave due to a shortage of adequate PPE to fit his beard, despite stating he is a “very religious person”. This has since been followed up with articles on the same video by Canadian news outlets.

Both were met by strong responses from Sikh organisations and community figures, some of whom have already been speaking out against pressures directed towards Sikh medics due to PPE mismanagement.

The Sikh Council UK wrote a statement warning of “fringe media elements who are using Corona Virus to target the Sikh Community”. The coverage also omitted the fact that the Sikh Council UK had received a letter from NHS (National Health Service – UK) National Director supporting their push for suitable PPE for Sikhs.

The British Sikh Doctors Organisation (BSDO) spoke against any attempts to “shine a negative light” on such situations, whilst also highlighting their work sourcing “hoods” (an adequate form of PPE for those keeping beards) for Sikh healthcare workers in the UK.

Reusable PPE, cost effective, one size fits all, prevents people removing beards worn for religious reasons. Better protection than just a face mask. Pts could see our faces! https://t.co/OtiyFeB2Lw@TotterdellJac @StGeorgesTrust @BritishSikhDocs @BritishIMA @jsbamrah @TheBMA

— Gaggandeep Singh Alg (@DrGSAlg) May 4, 2020

Sikh doctor and sevadaar of educational outlet Basics of Sikhi Miranvir Singh, one of many Sikhs on the front line fighting the pandemic, also released a video (below) speaking on the issue and advising Sikh healthcare workers how to handle such a situation.

Reactions to the video from @ImpactMontreal were arguably even stronger, with many considering the video in context with the discriminatory history and present policies of the Quebec government.

get him the PPE, and let him live his life in pursuit of service to humanity, this is not something to be celebrated…

— Happy Guy 10 (@HappyGuy103) May 2, 2020

Quebec be like "let's use our embarrassing shortage of appropriate PPE to encourage racist assimilation and make a whole jazzy PR campaign about it" ???? countries are almost excited that they fail to provide appropriately and now have the perfect opportunity for oppressive policy https://t.co/VczLQWh6F0

— Asha Sawhney (@Asha_MKS) May 2, 2020

A fellow Sikh Canadian healthcare worker took to social media to speak about the video, with one saying “I am appalled at the lack of support for your religious accommodations”.

I am sorry you had to do this. I also work in healthcare. I salute your dedication. But I am appalled at the lack of support for Your religious accommodations. As a devout Sikh. I would be a body without a soul if I lost my beard. This is not the solution and I am sorry. https://t.co/T4nPczUxuG

— Harpreet S Hansra (@HarpreetSHansra) May 2, 2020

This is you glorifying a man being forced into choosing between his faith & his work due to inadequate PPE provisions.

This is you weaponising his "decision" against devoted Sikh doctors who won't sacrifice their faith.

This is disgusting, dehumanising and irresponsible AF. https://t.co/ZnHaEN0DWb

— Amrit Kaur J.✒ (@JamzKaur) May 2, 2020

Others emphasised the worry of such videos leading to hate-crimes and abuse against any Sikhs that choose to follow their faith, a concern that has been shared with The Sikh Press Association by many healthcare workers.

Please do not let this video become ammunition to be used against Sikhs who choose differently from you as they request the PPE they require to fight Covid. See the link for alterntive PPE for Sikhs https://t.co/6RhbA6ZrqY

— Dr Jagdeesh Singh Dhaliwal (@medtechdoc) May 3, 2020

Through the work of organisations such as the BSDO, The Sikh Doctors Association and Sikh Coalition, The Sikh Press Association has been sharing information from professional healthcare workers on what kind of PPE is available that can fit Sikhs that are following the mandatory practice of the Sikh path of keeping kes (unshorn hair).

Further to our previous article on pressure on healthcare workers to remove facial hair, we are delighted to share that @sikh_coalition are offering free legal aid to any USA based Sikhs impacted by the issue.

Read more on this here-https://t.co/0KkDKLyjii pic.twitter.com/TTEDzAJbVL

— SikhPressAssociation (@SikhPA) April 8, 2020

Through this, it was also revealed that shaving does not even guarantee a better fit for a mask or other types of PPE.

I had to use a fitted mask for my last job in Ontario. Clean shaved for the testing and the days I needed it: even then, I still got sand in my mouth and lungs, with a perfect (laser detected) seal. This is just propaganda to hide their own failures to provide PPE.

— J.S. (@JasminderSidhu) May 2, 2020

Sikh Paramedic here. For 20+ years. Not only is image faulty, there’s actually no good evidence that beards interfere/prevent seal with N-95 mask more than other things like face shape, weight, etc.

And anecdotally, I passed every N-95 fit test I took.

— Sahaj S. Khalsa (@ssk040) February 28, 2020

The Sikh Press Association will continue to monitor international media coverage on this issue and interject where required.