Navjot Sawhney: British Sikh 'punched and called a terrorist' by Polish nightclub bouncer

A British Sikh man who said he was called a "terrorist" and punched by a nightclub bouncer in Poland has received thousands of messages of support.

Navjot Sawhney, an aerospace engineer from the UK, said he was refused entry by the doorman at a nightclub in Krakow and received racist abuse about his turban.

Mr Sawhney said on Facebook that he listened politely, explained the man's words were offensive and offered to shake his hand - at which point the bouncer punched him in the face.

In a post which has been shared by thousands, the 25-year-old said he was further appalled when police told him not to expect the same treatment of "white and brown people" in Poland as in the UK.

He said in his Facebook post: "[The police] made a note of the bouncer’s details, but told me that I shouldn’t expect the same treatment in Poland that I would get in the UK. That in Poland, white people and brown people are different."

Polish people have sent messages in their hundreds to the young man, condemning the behaviour of a minority of "racist, dumb idiots" in the country.

Mr Sawhney said it was not only "ridiculous" to be mistaken for a radical Islamist, but irrelevant.

"My heart goes out to Muslims all over the world who are being persecuted because of the actions of terrorists," he told the International Business Times.

"Racists and bigots shout loudly. Their words ring out like gun shots, every act of discrimination a bullet in the soul of humanity," he wrote in his widely shared Facebook.

"But our solidarity will shame them. Our compassion will silence them. Our tolerance will blind them. And, in time, their shouts will fade to whispers, and there will be no more ammunition."

The Polish Embassy said it was "very sorry" and its Police Liason Officer in London was in contact with Krakow Police about the incident.

One Polish citizen said she was concerned the alleged conduct of the police was not being taken seriously enough.

Anna Piechowska said on Facebook: "As a Polish citizen I hope you will do more than a mere apology. Like punishing the bouncer and disciplinary action against the policemen."

Others offered dinner and free tour guides of Krakow if Mr Sawhney ever came back to Poland.

The nightclub management issued a letter saying it had terminated its contract with the security company following the incident and media coverage.

Mr Sawhney, who also runs a travel photography blog called Nav's Project 365 on Facebook, said the reaction of the police was most problematic.

"In all honesty, I am more upset with the police than the nightclub," he told the International Business Times.

"The police are expected to uphold justice, and if instead they perpetuate racism, then nothing will ever get better."