Sikh owners to keep Pa. airport sandwich shop

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The Sikh owners of two eastern Pennsylvania airport sandwich shops have settled a federal lawsuit alleging that they were being evicted because their appearance worried passengers.

Attorney George Kanupis says the owners will keep the lease on one Subway restaurant at Lehigh Valley International Airport and will get “generous financial incentives” to give up the other.

The plaintiffs — Suhirdbir Bhasin, Raminder Bhasin and Ishmeet Bhasin — alleged in August that they had been subjected to racial, ethnic and religious discrimination because their long beards and turbans concerned passengers.

The airport authority denied the allegations and said the evictions were due to renovations and an expiring lease. Executive director George Doughty says officials are pleased with the settlement and the authority board will vote on it Tuesday.