Sikhs again becoming victims of mistaken identity to what extent are the authorities to blame?

Saturday 9 July 2005


On Thursday the Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party in the UK, that is widely recognised as one of the largest and most influential Sikh organisations in the UK delivered one of the most scathing and damning statements condemning the perpetrators of the London terrorist atrocities.

The BBC reported the Sikh Federation (UK) as saying: "We totally condemn the terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians in London. These are the acts of cowards and a challenge to the international world. Those responsible have no respect for human life."

Yesterday the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, is reported to have met with Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh leaders following the bomb attacks, in order to coordinate responses with Britain’s faith communities. On the one hand it is good that the Sikh community was not overlooked, but most politicians statements show they have not learnt the lessons from the 9/11 aftermath.

Politicians when making speeches and the press are totally failing to mention the mistaken attacks on Sikhs even though the first place of worship attacked, within 24-hours of the terrorist atrocities, was a Gurdwara in Erith, Kent. The Gurdwara was firebombed, although the damage was limited to a broken window as the firebombs failed to ignite.

Sikhs are the largest and most visible ethnic minority and were the victims of mistaken identity following 9/11 throughout the world, including the UK. It is inexcusable that the authorities in the UK, where there are an estimated 700,000 Sikhs, including around 200,000 in London, have three and half years later been unable to find a way of recognising and finding a solution to the dilemma faced by Sikhs. Namely, that Sikhs are law-abiding and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorist attacks but are being abused and attacked for standing out and being different.

To make matters worse the Sikh Federation (UK), which has been the most vocal Sikh organisation in condemning these barbaric acts of terrorism is having it concerns about the threats to the Sikh community ignored. Indeed some of its key members have themselves been targeted with threats since Thursday, with no police action against those making threats.

The Government and the authorities are in danger of being accused by the Sikh community of doing nothing publicly and simply paying lip service to Sikhs in private. It is all the more surprising having just hosted Manmohan Singh, a turban wearing Sikh Prime Minister. It appears civil servants and politicians are so conscious of making public statements protecting the Muslim community from an unfair backlash that they may be unknowingly discriminating against Sikhs. Ironically, in the last few months we have heard politician after politician saying Sikhs are protected from racial discrimination but Muslims as a religious community are not. The reality is quite different.

Nothing will change with the Home Secretary meeting with one so-called Sikh "leader" that has a well known reputation within government of being a useful person to invite to such meetings and allow civil servants and politicians to tick the Sikh box! When the lives and religious institutions of ordinary Sikhs living in the UK are stake this will not do. The authorities need to ask if they are properly dealing with the complex dilemma faced by Sikhs and why no public messages of reassurance are reaching the grassroots of the Sikh community.

On Tuesday 12 July the first All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs is being launched at the Houses of Parliament and a Memorandum being delivered to 10 Downing Street. Representatives from over 360 Sikh Gurdwaras and organisations have been invited to the launch where the issue of mistaken identity will be high on the agenda of concerns with MPs and Ministers.

Other related press statements:
http://www.sikhfederation.com/news/pr_london_blast.htm