Via the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

This is just disturbing. A man in Sterling, Va. spoke to WAMU today after he and his family received a threatening letter targeting their practice of the Sikh religion.

The man, who did not reveal his name, said he received the letter February 28 addressed to the “Turban Family,” in reference to the headscarves worn by observant Sikhs. The letter, which was later turned over to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, accused the family of being Taliban operatives and asked them to leave the U.S. “as soon as possible otherwise one of our people is going to shoot you dead.” The letter also warned that the recipients were being monitored.

“It’s worrisome … very worrisome,” the Sikh man told WAMU.

In a statement, Jasjit Singh, the associate executive director of the Sikh organization, attributed the letter’s violent content to a severe lack of understanding of Sikh practices. “In the absence of awareness about who are and what we stand for, Sikh Americans we continue to endure harassment, discrimination and threats which run counter to the American ideals,” Singh said.

There are about 500,000 Sikhs living in the United States today, according to Singh’s organization, which also notes that 99 percent of U.S. residents wearing turbans are Sikhs from India.

Beyond the violent threats contained in the letter, the association of Sikhism with the Taliban is particularly jarring considering the militant group has often targeted Sikhs living in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The FBI and Loudoun County sheriff’s office are investigating the letter.