Perth, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
UNITED SIKHS Australia has welcomed Western Australian MLC Sophie McNeill’s statement in the Legislative Council highlighting an alleged anti-Sikh incident in Perth, in which a man’s turban was reportedly forcibly removed in front of his family.
The incident took place on October 15 at a shopping centre in Perth’s south-east. In her remarks to Parliament on October 22, McNeill referred to the reported attack, stating that a Sikh man had his turban removed while at the shopping centre with his family.
According to UNITED SIKHS, the victim was leaving the shopping centre with his wife and their nine-month-old child when an unidentified man allegedly approached him from behind, removed his Dastar and fled. A formal complaint has been lodged with Western Australia Police, and the investigation is ongoing.
The organisation thanked McNeill for raising the matter in Parliament, saying public recognition of incidents involving religious hatred and discrimination was important to ensure such behaviour was not overlooked or normalised.
UNITED SIKHS said it had been supporting the affected family through the reporting process and engaging with the relevant authorities. It called for a thorough investigation and appropriate recognition of the alleged religiously motivated nature of the incident.
The organisation also emphasised the religious and cultural significance of the Dastar in Sikhism, describing it as a sacred article of faith representing dignity, honour, identity and equality. It said forcibly removing a Sikh person’s turban could cause profound personal and community distress.
While acknowledging Western Australia’s multicultural character, UNITED SIKHS said the incident highlighted the continuing need to address prejudice and religious intolerance.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to working with government representatives, law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders to combat hate and protect the right of people to practise their faith without fear. It also urged anyone experiencing racism, discrimination or hate-related incidents to report them to the relevant authorities and seek support.
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