The Guardian – Why are Sikhs targeted by anti-Muslim extremists?

The shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin is just the most recent example of members of the religion being singled out for violence and abuse.

Emine Saner

“It’s a common thing,” says Balvinder Kaur Saund, a Labour councillor for the London Borough of Redbridge and chair of the Sikh Women’s Alliance, “to walk through an estate in [some parts of east London] and young boys throw stones and shout ‘Taliban’ at you. I have seen that myself.” She was once with a man – a Sikh who wore a turban – when some youths shouted “Osama” at him. “I wanted to retaliate but he said ‘Just ignore it and carry on walking’.” She thinks many more incidents go unreported.

The terrible events in Wisconsin at the weekend, where a gunman shot dead six people at a gurdwara, is an extreme, and thankfully rare, attack, but there are numerous instances of Sikhs being targeted in the US and the UK. The first victim of a backlash against Muslims in America after 9/11 was Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh who was shot dead. There have been other physical attacks on people, and on gurdwaras.

In March this year in the US, a letter was sent to a Sikh family – addressed to the “Turban Family” – claiming to know they had links to the Taliban. Mitt Romney, potentially the next president of the US, twice referred to Sikhs as “sheikhs” in expressing his condolences over the temple shooting.

After the London bombings in 2005, a gurdwara in Kent was firebombed, and another in Leeds. After 9/11, former Metropolitan police officer Gurpal Virdi remembers: “I dealt with a lot of complaints – we had attacks on individuals, even on women. When it happened, I was going around stations to tell the officers the differences between the Taliban and a Sikh because they didn’t know either. And this is London, a multicultural area. It doesn’t help when they kept showing images of [Osama Bin Laden] and in the UK, it’s the Sikhs who wear a turban.”

And then there are the everyday occurrences witnessed by Balvinder Kaur Saund, where Sikh men in particular are eyed suspiciously, as if they are proud members of al-Qaida.

Varinder Singh, co-founder of the Turban Campaign, which tries to counter negative reporting of the Sikh community, says: “Racism has always existed, but certainly September 11 didn’t help. It created a suspicion of the Sikh community, particularly because of the appearance of the male members. Inevitably that leads to physical and verbal attacks, but I think the recent attacks in America are a step beyond that.

That was deliberate and I think the argument of mistaken identity can’t really be used here – there were big signs outside saying ‘Sikh temple’. I think a general hatred has developed. Islamophobia is rife and applies to everyone of colour, regardless of religious background. In the eyes of people who wish to hate or belong to fascist organisations you are the enemy and seen as a potential target.

In this country, there is a lot of emphasis placed on extremism in certain corners of the Muslim community, however the government and councils tend to overlook far-right organisations such as the English Defence League.”

In May, the EDL tried to ally itself with the Sikh community by hijiacking a Sikh protest in Luton outside a police station after allegations that a Sikh woman had been raped by a Muslim man. “When we see groups such as the EDL try to align themselves with the Sikh community, it’s a relationship that can’t last,” says Varinder Singh. “This is a move to isolate the Muslim community who need our support.”

Is there a danger that in trying to differentiate themselves from Muslims – and there have been historical tensions between some Sikhs and Muslims – Sikhs are themselves contributing to Islamophobia? “It does happen and it is dangerous,” says Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism. “When I put the argument to people, a lot of them agree with me in opposing Islamophobia and the need to work with Muslims. It’s all the more reason for the decent majority to speak out.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/08/sikhs-targeted-anti-muslim-extremists

Petition to the House of Commons UK

To The House of Commons London SW1A 0AA

The Humble Petition of the Kesri Lehar Working Committee

Declares that we make this petition on behalf of the undersigned, to petition Parliament to hold a debate on ongoing and, disturbing atrocities that are being committed in the Republic of India, that, infringe the basic human rights of the minority communities, this includes but is not limited to the Sikhs, Christians, Muslims and Dalits (India‟s untouchables)

Although some of the issues have been addressed by the UK Parliament in the recent past, and raised with the Indian government, especially on the issue of the death sentence, little or no action has been taken by India.

This is evident from the recent revival of the Indian government agencies‟ acts of applying to the Indian judiciary, to upgrade the already sentenced Sikh prisoners, be sentenced to death by hanging. In contrast, non Sikh prisoners who have been sentenced to similar terms of imprisonment have been pardoned and released prematurely.

The contrast in the manner that the Indian government and its agencies‟ act clearly shows the discrimination towards different classes, and, races in India. This has enraged not only the diaspora that live here in the United Kingdom but also the wider community as a whole.

In the recent weeks, the Sikhs in Punjab, have been brutally beaten (“lathi charged”) and tortured when they stood out to be heard at street protests, where there have been at least 3 recorded shootings by the police, of unarmed Sikh teenagers who have been peacefully protesting against the government. While in contrast, the “Shiv Sena Group”, which is an anti-minority, fascist, pro Hindu group, has been allowed, and in many situations, provided security protection by the paramilitary and police forces, while making anti minority speeches and threats against the minority community. These again, clearly depict the discrimination against the minorities by the government of India.

Additionally, whilst news footage was originally shown here of the peaceful protests in Punjab, and the heavy handed reaction of the Indian Police and paramilitary forces, this was subsequently stopped and the incidents were no longer reported.

The most disturbing issue is the wide spread increase in custodial rapes in India, and the gang rape of girls and women, throughout India by the police, paramilitary and military forces. The recent rape of Christian girls and women in North East India by the police and its paramilitary forces, with no action against the rapists, has again confirmed the government‟s discriminatory action against minority races.

The petitioner(s) therefore request(s) that the House of Commons hold a debate in parliament on the issues raised above and subsequently bring them to light in the European Union and United Nations. Further, we request that the United Kingdom urge India to take immediate action to stop the Human Rights abuses facing minorities in India. Additionally we request that the UK together with the UN and EU request India to sign the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the UN charter against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which encompasses the „death penalty‟ and thus have the death penalty abolished in India as it is now a Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading form of punishment in today‟s day and age. Moreover we urge you to appeal to India to stop Balwant Singh Rajoana‟s death sentence and that he be released from jail as he has served many years in custody. We further urge you to appeal to India to release all prisoners facing the same situation and those who have been imprisoned without a trial.

I think this text could be used as a template in other countries with Sikh populations for petitions in their local languages to their parliaments

Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

425.The Man in Blue – Banning of Pag and Patka in schools in Belgium

I am on a crash course trying to understand the background of the problems that Belgian Sikh youngsters face in education.

Like France, Belgium is a majority Roman Catholic country. In the Dutch speaking north, which I know much better than the French speaking south, the Roman Catholic Church used to be very powerful.

I think that this power of the church explains the ‘fundamentalist secularism’ of France and Belgium. Additionally in the Dutch speaking area the often right wing Flemish nationalists are not just against being ruled by French speakers but also tend to be against any incomers (Flemish first !).

The anti-incomers’ sentiment is strongest against the Islamic immigrants, probably because they are blamed for the ‘Islamic’ terrorism. This sentiment explains the anti ‘headscarf’ mood in the Dutch speaking part of the country. It is mostly based on emotions, not on rational arguments.

At the moment schools can make their own decisions to ban headscarves (which include turbans and patkas) or not. As I read the political mood it would not surprise me if a total ban on headscarves in schools will be implemented in the Dutch speaking part of the country.

As long as the politicians we have a dialogue with accept that cultural and religious minorities in the country cannot be wished away, we have a chance to win our case based on arguments.

Popular opinion thinks that Muslim girls wearing hijáb or niqáb are forced to wear these by their family. Going by my experience in the UK this is a generalisations not based on facts. Some girls are under pressure to wear the hijáb, others wear it against the will of their family. The same applies to Sikh boys wearing the turban.

I think that Sikhs (and Muslims) should stick to their traditions and values while actively taking part in society. Sikhs should be seen ‘living the values’ that Guru teaches. Sikhs should practice making an honest living, practice compassion and practice One God/One Humanity. We should not withdraw into a narrow Panjabi world of our own.

Popular opinion assumes that Muslims and Sikhs wearing religious symbols do not want to integrate. This again is not evidence based, and we can prove them wrong.

Sikh children, all children, have the absolute right to be educated. We have, all have, the absolute right to work in all jobs. We have, all have, the duty to be active, critical citizens of whichever country we live in.

391.Is my Sister equal to me ?

My answer to this question, whether I look at it from my Dutch or my Sikh perspective, is a resounding YES ! From a sub-continental point of view the question is more challenging. The two main religions or dharms on the sub-continent have a rich tradition of treating women as second class, as creatures to be ruled by men.

Sikhí is firmly based on the unity of mankind, but I have seen inequality being practised by Sikhs in Panjab and to a lesser degree here in the UK. I also find that English society is less equal in many respects than what I am used to in the Netherlands. This does not mean that they get everything right in my country of origin !

Guru’s teachings are wonderful. It is obvious from Gurbaní that Guru sees all creation, all creatures as coming from God, and that therefore we should respect all creation. Judging by Gurbaní Sikhs are way ahead of Panjabi, western, Hindu or Ibrahimic ‘teachings’.

The other day I went to two interfaith meetings. At the first meeting I met a female Anglican priest, who was treated by her two male colleagues as an absolute equal. That same day in another meeting I met a female vicar of the United Reformed Church. Both ladies were better educated than the majority of our granthis and were very comfortable in the company of people of other faiths.

A few years ago I attended a meeting regarding the Muslim school in Slough. The committee that was to decide on the school could not come to a decision and the case for a Muslim school was brought before an adjudicator.

The hall was full, partly with the Muslim variety of our greybeards, but there was a good presence of young Muslim women, many of them in hijáb. The men did what South Asian men are good at, they disagreed and launched personal attacks on each other.

The young Muslim women spoke good English, and formulated their contributions well. If it had not been for them the case of the Slough Islamic School might have been lost.

I am not saying that all Muslims and Christians are right and all Sikhs are wrong. In Sikhí we are on firm ground when we speak out for ‘One God, One Humanity’. But I am disappointed when I see that we are overtaken by Christians, Jews and Muslims when it comes to practising equality.

Please let us concentrate on getting our own house in order and let us practice equality between men and women, between all !

385.The Man in Blue – Dutch Islamophobia (II)

Man in Blue at the Sikh Missionary Camp in Bristol

Pim Fortuyn was the first Dutch politician who made the minorities and their ‘alien’ cultures and/or religions his main campaigning point. He was killed by a left-wing green activist.

The event that was a real bonus to anti-immigrant politicians going for the popular vote was the killing of Theo van Gogh, a relative of the great Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.

Theo van Gogh made a film called Submission about a Muslim woman forced into an arranged marriage, who is abused by her husband and raped by her uncle. A scene in the film showed an actress in see-through garments with a text from Al Qur’an written on her body, which also bore whip marks.

There is a parallel with the Bezhti case, where the playwright confused the ante-diluvium attitudes of many Panjabis with the teachings of the Guru Granth. In the case of Al Qur’an, whatever it teaches about the role of women, it cannot be blamed for the sort of behaviour depicted in the film.

The ‘Muslim’ who killed Theo van Gogh seems to follow Karl Marx’s Verelendung theory : if you make things worse for your community they will rise up and change the Netherlands into some kind of European Iran. Of course neither the majority of the Muslims nor of the other people living in the country want such a state, but that does not stop this kind of idiot.

Theo van Gogh had a good point, but made it badly. His killer had a valid argument against Theo van Gogh’s film, but by killing Theo van Gogh he made things worse for everybody in the Netherlands, and especially for the Muslims, who form about 5.5% of the population.

As a result Geert Wilders, ex member of the right wing ‘liberal’ VVD and now the Leader of the Partij voor de Vrijheid (Party for Freedom) scored about 30% of the vote in the recent European elections. Note that Geert Wilders’ party does not stand for freedom for all, like Guru Gobind Singh or the Dutch ‘Father of the Fatherland’ Willem the Silent, but only the freedom of those he sees as ‘proper’ Dutchmen.

The worst ‘sin’ of movements like this is that they force Muslims on a heap. They are asked to choose between ‘Dutch values’ and Osama Bin Laden, and of course they might not like either of these choices.  

Living together with people of different cultures and religions causes problems. These problems can be solved through dialogue and better understanding. Slogan shouting does no good and thinking that you can close your borders is an illusion in the world-village. Worldwide justice and better prices for commodities are the only viable anti-emigration policies.