“I went to the Gurdwara today and I was shocked to find a huge poster(about 3metre high) of Bhindranwale at the entrance of Gurdwara complex.Even inside,next to the Guru Granth Sahib ,there was a similar poster.That was the place where a painting of Guru Nanak used to hang.I felt sick and immediately left after offering a short prayer.I was thinking: where am I going to worship now? I cannot pray peacefully anywhere except at home.Inside the prayer hall we come to open our heart;to follow the message of Gurus and not to let hatred be stirred up. Politics and religion should not be mixed in the prayer hall”.
Lili Van Heers is a spokeswoman for the Sikh community in Belgium and is an author of a book on Sikhism in Dutch Language entitled: The Sikhism and the Sikhs (2008, Manohar Publishers).
She has dedicated her life to spread awareness on Sikh Religion amongst Belgian Community because there is still a lot of ignorance amongst Europeans on Sikhism. She is often contacted by the press,by different social service organisations whenever they need any information on Sikh community.She also takes an initiative to volunteers herself for local people to arrange a visit to Gurdwaras.Sikh community (living in Belgium ) also seek her help time to time for their many problems relate with religion/religious symbol (e.g. kirpan(dagger) confiscated by the police and subsequent court cases).
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