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The British government needs to do more to protect
Sikhs from race
hate after the London bombings and 2001 attacks
in the US, the Sikh
Federation has said.
The political party said ministers had "not
adequately acknowledged
and tackled race hate crimes against Sikhs"
and their religious
institutions."
Its comments came as the National Sikh Convention
began in
Wolverhampton, four years after the 11 September
attacks.
More than 10,000 British Sikhs were expected to
attend the annual
event.
The Sikh Federation - which organises the convention
- said Sikhs
were "the prime target of hate crimes as
the largest and most visible
ethnic minority".
There is considerable frustration within the community
that the
government has at best been paying lip service
to Sikhs since 9/11
Bhai Amrik Singh
Despite "taking the lead in condemning terrorist
attacks", Sikhs had
been attacked and abused, chairman Bhai Amrik
Singh said.
"There is considerable frustration within
the community that the
government has at best been paying lip service
to Sikhs since 9/11,
when we were first targeted by what many termed
'mistaken identity'."
He said he believed government ministers not had
publicly condemned
attacks against Sikhs because they feared it would
"imply it is
acceptable to attack Muslims".
Other issues on the convention's agenda include
political
representation, discrimination and the treatment
of Sikhs in India.
EU presidency
The Sikh Federation has also urged Britain to
use its presidency of
the European Union to defend the Sikh identity.
"In recent years, the visible Sikh identity
has been increasingly
challenged and threatened in the UK and other
parts of the EU," it
said.
The statement added that Sikhs travelling or living
in other parts of
Europe were increasingly facing discrimination.
"The UK Government has not done enough to
represent the rights of
Sikhs to practise their faith, whether it is in
the context of
France, Belgium or EU regulations imposed on the
UK against its
wishes.
"Also, increased security concerns since
9/11 have unfairly affected
Sikhs in many walks of life, from security cleared
airport workers to
members of the public trying to obtain public
services in government
buildings," it said.
'Ignored'
The convention was held at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara
on Sedgeley
Street, in Blakenhall, West Midlands. Bhai Amrik
Singh said it was "indefensible" that
no government minister was attending.
"Ordinary law-abiding Sikhs and their issues
are being ignored by the
government," he said.
Speakers include the shadow minister for homeland
security, Patrick
Mercer.
Labour MP Pat McFadden and the chairman of the
All Party
Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs, Rob Marris,
will also attend, along
with SNP leader Alex Salmond and Liberal Democratic
MEP Liz Lynne. |
