UNITED SIKHS Blog

Written by Sharon Persaud and Anisha Singh

Fresno, California– BIAS ATTACK, HATE CRIME, BRUTALITY… no matter what it is called, IT MUST STOP NOW! This week, a California, elderly, Sikh man was violently attacked outside the gurdwara he faithfully attends to practice his religion. Eighty-two year-old Piara Singh, was beaten with a steel pipe outside a Fresno temple in what police believe is a hate crime. Singh spends his nights at Nanaksar Sikh Temple in Fresno, California, to watch over the grounds and prepare langaar, the free daily meals that Sikh temples traditionally serve. According to his nephew, Charanjit Sihota, on the morning of Sunday, May 5th, 2013, , Singh left the temple grounds for a morning walk dressed in his usual traditional clothing. Singh’s son, Kawal Singh, was driving to the temple to pick up his father when up ahead he saw a man jump off his bicycle and beat Singh with something metal. He honked the horn and called 911.[1] Singh is expected to make a full physical recovery after suffering a punctured lung, fractured jaw and staples in his head due to lacerations.

But what about Singh’s emotional recovery? Too often, members of the Sikh community become victims to hate crimes, bias-based bullying, and discrimination throughout the United States.While we live in a country created by many cultures, races, and religions, we still see these attacks frequently occurring even in the 21st century. Because Singh wears a turban on his head does not mean he is any different from the Caucasian man waiting for the bus, or the African American man entering the store, or the Hispanic woman playing with her child in the playground. Just like them, he is a husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend.  He is a human being regardless of the faith he follows.

Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), co-chair of the American Sikh Caucus, released a solemn statement to the public stating, “My heart broke when I heard about the suspected hate crime on Piara Singh, an elderly Sikh man dedicated to his faith and his community. He was doing what he did every day, volunteering at his gurdwara, when a man viciously attacked him.  In the wake of Oak Creek and Elk Grove, it is clear that hysteria and stereotyping are still far too common.  We must combat the growing wave of violence and intolerance that threatens the safety and civil liberties of all Americans, including the Sikh American community. That is why I have pushed the FBI to finally begin tracking hate crimes against the American Sikh community.  This will help law enforcement officers in every locality to do all they can to prevent violence against this – and all – communities.  We cannot wait any longer.”

Since September 11, the world has been gripped by fear and many minority communities, including the Sikh community, have suffered from the backlash of misinformation and ignorance. The first reprisal killing after Sept 11 was of a Turban wearing Sikh in Arizona, who was mistaken as belonging to the group which perpetrated the 9/11 incident. Sikhs, due to their unique appearance, have since been a target of hate and bias crime and discrimination. Every week, UNITED SIKHS receives reports from Sikh adults and children who are victims of race-based hate crimes and those being denied their right to practice their religion. A Sikh’s right to wear his articles of faith has been challenged in schools, the workplace, prisons and other public places. Sikhs also suffer increased harassment by TSA officials at airports because they wear the Turban.

While the fear of another attack is understood, nothing justifies channeling that fear through violence towards others based on stereotypes perpetuated by the media.  UNITED SIKHS continues to work to stop the cycle by creating awareness of these issues amongst authorities and the public through talks, seminars, and multifaith events. In addition, UNITED SIKHS offers advice, counsel and legal representation to those whose legal rights are being denied by errant and mis-informed authorities and the public.

Manvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS Director, attended the town hall meeting at Nanaksar Sikh Temple in Fresno on the evening of Tuesday, May 7th to discuss this vicious attack on Piara Singh. There were 300 attendees including police officials and Fresno’s Police Chief that spoke out against hate crimes and the need to educate society on the Sikh religion and its worshippers.

1. Marcum, Diana. “Sikh Man, 82, Beaten with Pipe in Fresno in Suspected Hate Crime.” Los Angeles Times., 8 May 2013. Web. 9 May 2013.

Mr. Piara Singh

UNITED SIKHS questioned about the ban of conspicuous symbols such as turbans and headgears in schools and in general(in specific countries)which violate the very essence of human rights. The High Commissioner responded saying that “A faith group and minority have the right to practice and manifest their culture, religion and identity without discrimination and I oppose these principles and standards when I raise these matters with government. They have to find balance to accommodate diversity.”

US will continue advocating for equal rights as enshrined in the charter of UN.

People from diiferent faiths and parts of the world make thier way through prayers and condolences for the victims of Wisconsin Sikh Temple attack

Gur Fateh!

I condemn this barbaric act of violence and atrocities against Gur Sikhs who were carrying out the blessed good deed of Sewa at the Gurdwara in various forms. I wholeheartedly wish to express my sincere condolences to the families, relations and friends and the Sikh community across the globe for this despicable act. Wahe Guru bless the soul of the martyrs and give strength to the families, relatives and friends to accept this unfortunate incident and come to terms with it.

As The Peace Islands Institute, we were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that tragically took so many lives in Wisconsin. This is not only an act of extreme violence; it is also an act of evil.  Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Oak Creek Sikh community. Our prayers and condolences go out to those killed and injured, and we share the grief of everyone affected by this senseless event.

On behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury and on my own behalf, I want to assure our Sikh friends and colleagues of our prayers following the devastating attack on the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.  At such a time, it becomes all the more important that religious groups work together to overcome all cultural forms that promote racial and ethnic hatred. We mourn the death of the Sikh victims, including the temple president Satwant Singh Kaleka, and I invite Christian churches and Sikh Gurdwaras to work together with inter religious groups to hold vigils and pray for the families involved.

Over the last decade, the religious communities in this country have worked very hard to develop meaningful and mutually supportive relationships. I hope that the Sikh community will feel that they are held in our prayers and that we can work together to prevent anything similar from happening again.

With my warm good wishes,

Toby

____________________

The Revd Dr Toby Howarth

Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser for the Church of England

As family members of those lost in the attacks of 9/11/2001, we mourn with those who lost family members and dear friends last Sunday in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Once again, we are compelled to reach out to those who have suffered directly such horrific violence.  We extend our friendship, our love and our solidarity with the entire Sikh community as we move forward from this day. We are with you in spirit, and should we be of assistance in any additional way, we are a phone call away.

With respect,

Colleen Kelly September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows

My heart goes out to my Sikh brothers and sisters, and I wish you strength and support in your grieving and healing processes. Please let me know if there is a piece I can help with; the Sikh community has always been so generous and compassionate, God bless them.

- Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW, Rabbinic Director,NCJH & NYJHC,JBFCS

In my attempt to find global Sikh organisations to contact, you were the first I came across. I would just like to express my upmost sadness and dismay at the shooting which took place in  a temple in Wisconsin and resulted in the deaths of 6 innocent Sikh worshippers. Speaking for us Muslims, we have suffered much discrimination and abuse since the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the resultant war on terror and I have much empathy for the Sikh brothers and sisters to whom this abuse has often been deflected as a result of the hatred and ignorance of certain groups and individuals.

At these times, I believe that it is absolutely essential that members of both religious faiths unite and condemn this act of barbarism as a single body for only through a united front do we have a chance of facing down those who wish to persecute us. Gone are the days before partition when Muslims and Sikhs existed in almost equal numbers and in harmony in cities such as Lahore and Amristar and yet it is more important than ever at times like that that unity and friendship be replicated.

 - From a concerned British Muslim.

We strongly condemn the dastardly, cowardice, mad act against the sikh community in oak creek,

We offer our ardass for the peace of soul of those innocent devotees killed in mad  and meaningless shootout. Also waheguru give courage to the families to face the loss. It is extremely sad,

The sikh community there needs to be alert and appropriately prepared to protect themselves and attacks on gurudwaras, where the message of universal brotherhood and love is imparted.

Hukum te Bhana wahegurujee da,

- Sincere regards, Jatinderpal Singh Uppal Nagpur India

Mark Paul Arabo,  President & CEO, Neighborhood Market Association -  “On behalf of our 2,000 members and 21,000 employees in CA, AZ, and NV; we offer our deepest and most sincere condolences.  We are deeply saddened by the despicable acts of the shooting today at the Wisconsin Sikh temple.  We hope the law enforcement community catch these criminals who have caused this pain and justice is served.  We also hope and pray the Sikh community at large will start the healing process and this tragedy will bring everyone closer as one unit. You are all in my prayers and if there is anything we could do to support the Sikh community, please let me know.  I stand in solidarity with all of you”

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President,New York Board of Rabbis - “When will these tragic senseless shootings stop? Our prayers are with victims and families. We will stand with all of you in a demonstration of spiritual solidarity.”

This week Alabama passed immigration legislation that turns the police force, whose primary duty is to protect, into immigration officials with the power to question anyone, where there is “reasonable suspicion”, about their immigration status. Moreover, schools which are supposed to provide a nurturing and safe environment are now responsible for recording the undocumented status of their students. In case there was any doubt about the devastating implications of this law for the Hispanic community in Alabama, one only had to read this week’s headlines: “After Ruling, Hispanics Flee…” (New York Times), “Hispanic Students Vanish from Alabama Schools…” (Associated Press). The State of Alabama has confirmed that over 2,000 Hispanic children never showed up for school on Monday. Continue reading ‘Alabama, Land of the Scared’ »

Thanks to the advocacy work of the RTT Legal Team, USCIRF has expressed serious concerns about the Sikhs right to wear the turban in France, and concern about the recent European Court of Human Rights Decision against the Right to Turban (http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2650&Itemid=126). As you may be aware, the ECtHR dismissed the case as inadmissible based on a previous ruling that the ban on turbans is a proportionate response to the aims of protection of the rights and freedoms of others and the protection of public order. You can read more about the cases at http://www.unitedsikhs.org/rtt and at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-16024-Europe-Policy-Examiner~y2009m7d17-European-Court-rules-against-the-Sikh-turban-in-French-schools