with thanks : newhamrecorder : LINK : for detailed News story with pics.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Why Benching Sikhs Feeds the Trolls
On August 27, the international Sikh community experienced a painful setback when FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, announced that it will not reverse Article 4.4.2, which bans players from wearing dastaars (turbans) on the court. Instead FIBA delayed its decision, saying that the Technical and Legal Commissions "...shall study and present options to the Central Board."
When I first learned that Sikh players were told by FIBA that they must remove their dastaars before playing at the Japan-India game in mid-July of this year, I was appalled. As the first turbaned Sikh American to play basketball for an NCAA program, I can testify first-hand that informed governing bodies have permitted followers of the Sikh faith to proudly wear their turbans in games on the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. These respected athletic institutions reject FIBA's notion that religious head coverings "may cause injury to other players" and recognize that these policies are discriminatory.
with thanks : huffington post : LINK : for detailed news.
Sikh cabinet minister Tim Uppal describes racist incident in Ottawa
EDMONTON - Edmonton MP Tim Uppal says he was the victim of a racist comment at an Ottawa tennis court.
Canada's minister of state for multiculturalism said the incident occurred on Monday when a woman leaving the tennis court looked at him and his wife and said: "Are they members? Why can't they play in the day? They don't have jobs."
On Monday, Uppal shared his confrontation on social media, both on Twitter and Facebook, adding that the worst part of the exchange was that his three children were with them at the time.
Today, Uppal took to Facebook to issue a statement:
"Thank you everyone for your words of support after my post last night. Canada is an incredibly diverse and pluralistic country that embraces the values of tolerance and equality of opportunity," Uppal said.
with thanks : sunnews : LINK : for detailed news.
Woman sues Dundee Sikh temple over kitchen explosion
A woman is suing a Sikh temple in Dundee after she lost part of her leg in a kitchen explosion.
Kuljit Bahia suffered severe injuries in the explosion, thought to have been caused by a pressure cooker, at the Sri Guru Nanak Gurdwara temple in 2011.
The 54-year-old is claiming for damages against "the Sikh community of Dundee" as well as members of the Nelson Street temple's operating committee.
A civil action has been lodged at the Court of Session.
with thanks : BBC News : LINK : for detailed news.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
.jpg)
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.
Friday, September 5, 2014
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.
- 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.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Monday, September 1, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
