During the year Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C. released his second report on the working of the Terrorism Act 2000. In the report issued last year Lord Carlile acknowledged the positive representations made by Sikh representatives in relation to the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). In the report this year Lord Carlile stated: "I have received and considered renewed representations

from some who believe that proscription has been used arbitrarily and unfairly, notably Sikhs who impressed me with the vigour and reasoning of their arguments." Lord Carlile has in effect made a very important distinction between the silence of groups connected to Al-Qaeda and the continued campaign of Sikhs previously associated with the ISYF to sensibly exert political pressure to clear the ISYF name.

During 2003 arguments were specifically presented to Parliamentarians during a special briefing, to the Privy Council and later in the year in a meeting with Lord Carlile. The "box loads" of evidence presented during 2003 by Sikh representatives and lawyers on behalf of the ISYF has been well received and demonstrated that the ISYF before being
suspended was an extremely active and sensible organisation engaged in numerous worthwhile religious, community and charitable activities. The Home Secretary has acknowledged in writing that the evidence presented by the ISYF in this regards could not be refuted.
Although the ISYF remains suspended arguments put forward through political channels have strengthened the case for the ban to be lifted. Evidence has been presented to show the ISYF does not support terrorism and had no relevant connection to any terrorist outrages that may still be the subject of concern in the Punjab or elsewhere today. The Sikh community's ever-increasing political contacts from all political parties have confirmed that the working group within government that meets to review existing proscriptions every 6 months has the ISYF at the top of its list of organisations where the ban will be lifted first. As one prominent Labour politician put it: "How long can the UK Government continue to retain the ban on the ISYF given the situation in Panjab over the last decade, the changed emphasis since 9/11, the extensive body of evidence that exists and acknowledgement of the activities of the ISYF." The British Sikh community are waiting to see if the Labour Government will live up to their promises in the run up to the General Election next year.

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