On Thursday, April 3rd, three members of the United States Congress wrote letters to Harvey Weinstein on behalf of the Sikh community requesting that Mirmamax edit the film Dysfunktional Family, which features comedian Eddie Griffin calling a bearded and turbaned Sikh man, "Bin Ladin."
Letters were sent on behalf of the Sikh Community by California Democrat Mike Honda, Vice Chair of the APA Caucus; New York Democrat Joseph Crowley, Co-Chair Caucus of India and Indian Americans; and New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall. In the letter, the US Congressional Representatives expressed their concern that the film Dysfunktional Family would add to the climate of hate crimes against Sikh, Muslim and Arab Americans.
"The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium documented nearly 250 bias-motivated incidents targeting Asian Pacific Americans, particularly Indian, Pakistani, and Sikh Americans, in the three month period following September 11th," Congressmen Crowley and Honda wrote, " They appear to have been targeted because they were percieved to be Arab or Muslim, as Sikh men wear turbans and long beards, similar to the publicly percieved image of Osama Bin Laden. The timing of this preview and the release of the movie, therefore, are especially problematic."
The Sikh community wishes to express its thanks to these US Congressional Representatives, as well as to Tarlochan Singh, Chariman of the National Commission for Minorities, India who have contacted Miramax on behalf of the community to express their concern over the film.
A copy of the letter sent by Crowley and Honda appears below:
April 3, 2003
Mr. Harvey Weinstein
Miramax Film Corp.
375 Greenwich St.
New York, New York 10013
Dear Mr. Weinstein,
It is our understanding that Miramax Pictures is releasing the film, Dysfunktional Family. We are deeply troubled by the timing and the content of Dysfunktional Family, because of its potential to incite hate crimes against Sikh Americans.
The film's trailer depicts Eddie Griffin saying, "I can't figure out why they can't find Osama Bin Laden - six feet six, with a nappy beard and a towel on his head." When an elderly Sikh gentleman wearing a turban walks by, Griffin points at him and says, "Bin Laden! I knew he was around here." By associating the Sikh image with terrorism and the war in Iraq, the film is creating a climate where innocent people could be harmed and possibly killed. The images in this movie will add fuel to the fire of backlash and hate crimes.
The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium documented nearly 250 bias-motivated incidents targeting Asian Pacific Americans, particularly Indian, Pakistani, and Sikh Americans, in the three month period following September 11th. They appear to have been targeted because they were percieved to be Arab or Muslim, as Sikh men wear turbans and long beards, similar to the publicly percieved image of Osama Bin Laden. The timing of this preview and the release of the movie, therefore, are especially problematic.
Following September 11, 2001, hate crimes against Sikh Americans soared. On September 15, 2001, Balbir Singh Sodhi was shot in the backlash outside his gas station in Mesa, Arizona, because he wore a beard and a turban. This crime is being prosecuted as a hate crime. The Sikh religion, which is the fifth largest in the world, teaches the equality of all people and the rights of all people to worship God as they wish. The turban and beard of a Sikh is a symbol of his commitment to these principles. Almost everyone living in the United States who wears a turban is a Sikh. Misrepresentation of Sikhs in your movie may incite such violence against Sikhs and other minorities.
Serious hate crimes against Sikh Americans have continued. Several days ago, on March 29, 2003, New York City police apprehended a man who murdered four people because he was disturbed by the September 11 attacks and wanted to hurt persons believed to be of Middle Eastern descent. In short, Sikhs, and all other persons perceived to be Arab or Muslim, are in immediate danger of suffering hate crimes. The preview for your movie further heightens this dangerous situation. It is even more troubling that the short version of the preview (now playing on television) eliminates much of the content from the online version, but insistently includes the closing line where Eddie Griffin calls a Sikh gentleman, "Bin Laden."
While we believe in the freedom of expression, we also recognize a corporate and moral responsibility to ethical business practices that should guide your decision-making process. Immediately following September 11, 2001, the film industry delayed the release of and edited certain movies in order to be sensitive to the tragic events. I hope you agree that the many innocent Americans who have been killed as a result of the backlash are enough to warrant your discretion and sensitivity as well. We ask that you remove the objectionable portions of the film from the preview trailer and the full-length feature immediately.
We look forward to your urgent response.
Sincerely,
Mike Honda
Vice Chair, APA Caucus
Member of Congress
Joseph Crowley
Co-Chair, Caucus of India and Indian Americans
Member of Congress
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