SALDEF Confronts FOX News About Blatant Misrepresentation of Sikh Community

June 23, 2006

Source: SALDEF Press Release

http://www.saldef.org/content.aspx?&a=1478&z=1&title=SALDEF%20Addresses%20Inappropriate%20Association%20of%20Sikh%20Community%20and%20Terrorists%20with%20FOX%20NEWS

On June 23, 2006 a Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund Press Release reported, "After receiving dozens of complaints from the Sikh community regarding a FOX NEWS story on the arrest of 17 accused Canadian terrorists, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) contacted FOX NEWS to inquire about a misrepresentation on their broadcast. The broadcasted story showed the front of the Ontario Khalsa Darbar - a Sikh Gurdwara (congregational place of worship) as the house of worship the terrorists frequented and also showed members of the local Sikh congregation. SALDEF was immediately concerned for the safety of the Sikh community across North America who could possibly be targets of hate crimes as a result of the arrests and inappropriate images being displayed by the media. On June 8, 2006 SALDEF contacted the Fox News Correspondent who covered the story expressing disappointment that the news agency would make such a blatant error in depicting the local Sikh community as actor's in the terrorist plot. In an email to SALDEF, the Fox News Correspondent noted, 'I did pull our entire crew into the satellite truck and explained to them the difference between a Gurdwara and a mosque. I can assure you they realized the gravity of this situation. I'm very, very sorry.'"