Sikh Organizations Raise Awareness with Miramax

On Friday, April 4th, Miramax Pictures will release a movie titled Dysfunktional Family, staring Eddie Griffin. During the trailer for the film, Griffin says to a bearded and turbaned Sikh man, “I knew you was around here somewhere, Bin Ladin.”

The FBI has reported an increase in hate crimes against Sikhs, Muslims and Arabs since the start of the war with Iraq. Concerned that images from the movie will increase the potential of hate crimes and backlash attacks against members of the Sikh American community, various Sikh groups have organized to make a response.

Sikh Coalition has created an on-line petition to Miramax Pictures and Harvey Weinstein, the makers of the film. The goals of the petition campaign include having Miramax issue an apology and removing the objectionable portions of the film from the movie and the trailer.

Over 65 Sikh organizations and 25 non-Sikh organizations are co-sponsoring the petition.

The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) attempted to engage Miramax in a dialogue about the film beginning in mid-February and requested a screening of the film. However, Miramax did not respond to these requests. At the end of March, SMART retained the law firm of Krovatin & Associates, LLC. On March 27, a letter from the firm to Miramax was sent, stating that “if Miramax does not take prompt and appropriate action prior to the release of the film, Miramax, together with other responsible entities, will be held accountable.”

To date, Miramax has not responded to the letter.

SikhNet will be launching a letter-writing campaign today asking Sikh Americans to contact their congressional representatives and express their concerns that this film may add fuel to the fire of backlash and hate crime attacks against Sikh Americans.