Why are Afghan Sikhs desperate to flee to the UK?

In August, 35 Afghan Sikhs were found in a container at Tilbury docks - one had died. But why are they so desperate to come to the UK?

The prayer hall at the Afghan Sikh temple in west London is packed with worshippers listening to the harmoniums and drums. Most of the people inside have at one time fled from Afghanistan. It is a country thought of as Muslim but there is a tiny minority of Sikhs, and their numbers are ever dwindling as they try to escape persecution.

Very little had been heard about Afghan Sikhs until 35 were found at Tilbury docks nearly three weeks ago. Those who were found alive in the shipping container are now claiming asylum so they can join relatives and friends already in Southall. The temple has been helping them with donations of food and clothing.

with thanks : BBC News : LINK : for detailed news.

Khanda Baba Deep singh ji : SikhsIndia

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U.S. Gurdwaras Plan $5M Campaign to Project Positive Sikh Image

Washington, D.C. — Over 100 representatives from gurdwaras across the U.S. have pledged support for the National Sikh Campaign's plan to engage top U.S. political operatives and media firms for presenting the community positively.

Meeting here recently this month for a grassroots meeting called by the newly formed NSC, the gurdwara representatives set a target of raising $5 million to shape the Sikh image in America, according to a media release.

During the strategy session, Geoff Garin of Hart Research, who served as Hillary Clinton's former top political strategist, and Isaac Baker of AKPD Message and Media, President Barack Obama's media firm, outlined a roadmap of how Sikhs can change perceptions in the U.S. and how crucial the campaign will be to the future of Sikhs.

Garin also gave the meeting's participants an exclusive update on NSC's groundbreaking messaging research that will underpin the effort and inform the community how it can effectively communicate to the American public.

with thanks : IndiaWest : LINK : for detailed news.

Another Sikh killed in his shop in NW Frontier yesterday.

Action Taken by UNITED SIKHS for Sikhs in Peshawar, Pakistan

• UNITED SIKHS has been approached by 70 Sikh families in Peshawar who wish to apply for asylum. We have been meeting one-on-one with family members of those most vulnerable and receiving threats from different groups. There are approximately 800 families and approximately 7,000 Sikhs living in Peshawar.


• Since December 2009, UNITED SIKHS has provided assistance to rehabilitate affected families who had to flee their homes in the Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan due to threats from the Taliban and the communal conflict. Read about our efforts at: http://unitedsikhs.org/pak


• We are in dialogue with the United States Department of State (DOS) to assure Sikhs in Peshawar are not forgotten and a solution is found for these families as soon as possible.


• We are reaching out to the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, DC to make sure they are going above and beyond in looking out for the Sikh community in Pakistan as tensions build.


• We have also approached Canadian MPs to take up the issue of asylum for Sikh victims of terror.

Peshawar, Pakistan - So far, 70 Peshawar Sikh families have sought UNITED SIKHS' help to obtain asylum following a campaign of terror, epitomised by the brutal killing of teenager Jagmohan Singh, when a gunman shot at Sikhs in a market area on 6th Aug 2014. The United States Department of State has assured UNITED SIKHS that it is investigating the situation faced by Sikhs in Peshawar.

Jagmohan Singh, a 17-year-old Sikh trader, died when he was shot and killed by an unknown gunman in the busy Shabab Market in the Hashtnagri area of Peshawar, in the North West Frontier region of Pakistan. Two of Jagmohan's friends, Param Singh and Manmit Singh, were also injured when the gunman opened fire on them. According to local newspaper Daily Aaj, Al Qaeda leader Ameer Yousafraza Mujahid of Bajaur and Mohmand Agency claimed responsibility for killing Jagmohan in Peshawar. The group also warned of more attacks until the end of the military operation "Zarb-e- Azb" in North Waziristan Agency.

Following the murder of Jagmohan Singh, the Sikh community in Peshawar took to the streets to protest against the government's failure to protect members of minority communities. Protesters burned tires and blocked roads, including the Grand Trunk (GT) road in Peshawar.

Eyewitness Diva Singh said that the three victims were in their shops at the Shabab market in the Khush Hal Bazaar in Hashtnagri when a man entered the premises and opened fire. Alarmed, other shopkeepers closed their shops. Diya further stated that the attacker, who had come on a motorbike, did not face any resistance and escaped.

Now, on the afternoon of August 3, 2014, Aamarjeet Singh, was also stabbed to death inside his shop in Shaheedan Bazaar.

"The situation for minorities has worsened day-by-day since January 2014 due to bad law and order. The killing of Sikhs in Peshawar has created a lot of tension among the community and the government has told the community that it cannot protect them. The community has decided to migrate from Peshawar and leave this country," says Herdyal Singh, UNITED SIKHS Aid Project Coordinator, Pakistan.

RTI revealed the Pollution status of Delhi : Hindustan Times

Happy Gurupurab !

Hand written Guru Granth Sahib ji

Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Jheel Kuranja !

51 Akhand Paths !

Helmets mandatory for women riders in Delhi, Sikh women exempted !

Wearing helmets for women riding pillion on a two-wheeler is now mandatory in the national Capital, though Sikh women have been exempted, with the Government amending the rule 115 of Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993.

"Wearing helmets is now mandatory for women pillion riders in Delhi. However, Sikh women have been keept out of its ambit on religious grounds," said a top transport department official.

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had also given the go ahead to this proposal making helmets mandatory for all women pillion riders, except Sikh women.

According to transport department, In Delhi alone, a total number of 576 two wheeler riders lost their lives during 2012.

with thanks : IndiaToday : LINK : for detailed news.

FIBA REQUIRE ANOTHER SIKH BASKETBALL PLAYER TO REMOVE TURBAN AHEAD OF RULE REVIEW

On July 12, 2014, two Sikh Indian basketball players were required by officials to remove their turbans prior to India’s game against Japan at the 5th FIBA Asia Cup in China.1

On August 21, 2014, another Indian Sikh basketball player, Anmol Singh, faced a similar situation at the FIBA Asia U18 Championship in Doha, Qatar, when he was asked to remove his turban (patka) twice. The first incident occurred during warm up before the opening match,2 and the second occurred a day later, when he was permitted by officials to play the first quarter with his patka, but then asked to remove it in the second quarter.3

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI)4 argued that asking Singh to remove his patka was "unwarranted action” by theTechnical Commission of FIBA Asia5.6 

The Director of the Technical Commission of FIBA Asia informed India’s team manager, Shafique Ahmed Shaikh, that Anmol Singh’s matter will be reviewed at the FIBA Central Board meeting in Seville, Spain on August 28 and 29, alongside the review of the FIBA Asia Cup headgear incident from July, which is due to be considered on August 27.7 

with thanks : lawinsport : LINK : for detailed news.