UN raps France for asking Sikh to remove turban for Id photo

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has concluded that the religious freedom of 57-year-old Shingara Mann Singh was violated when he was asked by French authorities to remove his turban for his passport photograph.

A French citizen since 1989, Shingara couldn’t renew his passport in 2005 because the authorities insisted that he remove the turban for his ID photograph, which he refused to do. A legal team of the NGO United Sikhs  took up his case in French courts and then engaged O’Melveny & Myers LLP to file a petition with the UNHRC in December 2008.

The UNHRC, in a statement dated September 26, 2013 but made public last week, said France had failed to explain why the restriction imposed on Shingara was necessary. The international rights body found that the restrictions resulted in a potential obstruction to his fundamental right to freedom of religion when he was required to appear in ID photos without the religious headwear that he always wore, as he might thereafter be forced to take off his turban in public when going through ID checkpoints.

The UNHRC also observed that France had not explained why wearing a turban covering the upper portion of the head and forehead(leaving the face clearly visible) makes it more difficult to identify the wearer, or why a bare-headed ID photograph in Shingara’s case would make it easier to ascertain his identity or to prevent fraud or forgery given that he always wore a turban in public.

“This is the third turban case that the United Sikhs legal team has won at the UN since these cases were filed against France in 2008. This shows the international community recognises that wearing a turban is not only a Sikh’s religious duty but also a part of his identity,” said Mejindarpal Kaur, international legal director of the NGO.

with thanks : newindianexpress : LINK

Army Enlisted Sikh Soldier Earns Rare Promotion

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina, United States

Simranpreet Lamba, the Army’s only enlisted Sikh soldier, was promoted to corporal, making him the first Sikh to earn that rank in more than 30 years, according to the News Tribune.

“I kind of think all my hard work has paid off,” said Lamba, whose enlistment in 2009 triggered a ten-month review in which Army officials considered whether he could serve while sporting a turban, uncut hair and a beard.

He is one of a handful of Sikhs serving in the Army across the active-duty and Reserve forces, according to the New York-based Sikh Coalition. Two of the others are in the medical field as officers, one a dentist and one a doctor.

Lamba, 29, hopes his promotion will show “there’s nothing about being Sikh, about our turban and our beard that can stop us from excelling in the Army,” he said.

He enlisted through a military program that recruits foreigners with special skills and offers them a path to citizenship. Lamba, who has become a naturalized U.S. citizen, speaks Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi.

He moved to America from New Delhi in 2006 and found his way to the Army after he earned a master’s degree in industrial engineering from New York University.

The Indian American said he always wanted to serve his country in uniform. Enlisting let him fulfill that dream.

His promotion from specialist to corporal was a lateral move, but it signifies that he’s doing well and is on a path to becoming a sergeant. He’d be the first Sikh sergeant in decades if he earned that rank.

with thanks : Indiawest : LINK

Happy Gurupurab !

Hyderabad Sikhs protest attack on Vizianagaram Gurudwara

Protesting against the attack on a Sikh Gurudwara in Vizianagaram on Saturday and sacrilege of the sacred scripture of Sikhs besides attacking a Sikh priest by antisocial elements, Sikhs  staged a protest demonstration at Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Sikhs, holding placards and black flags, gathered in large numbers at the Ameerpet Gurudwara and demanded the arrest of the  attackers and stringent action against them.

President of Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet S Darshan Singh said anti-social elements threw stones on the Gurdwara Saheb in Vizianagaram and a few of them even barged into the shrine and abused the priest there in a filthy language.

“Attacking a religious place which has nothing to do with the ongoing agitation is very unfortunate,” he said.

with thanks : New Indian Express : LINK : for detailed news 

Curfew imposed in Vizyanagram in Andhra Pradesh

Vijayanagram Update : Curfew has been imposed in Vizianagram town with police given orders to shoot at sight in the wake of large - scale violence by anti - bifurcation agitators, police said in Hyderabad.

with thanks : IBN7 : LINK

Anti Telangana Protestors vandalized Vijyanagram Gurdwara & Guru Granth Sahib saroop's burnt

SGPC seeks stern action against those hurting Sikh religious sentiments

AMRITSAR: While condemning the act of burning Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and vandalizing Vijyanagram Gurdwaa by anti-Telengana protestors in Andhra Pardesh, Shiromani Gurdwaa Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has sought strict action against those involved in sacrilegious act.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told media persons on Sunday that Sikhs were deeply hurt on the incident of attacking Shikligar Sikhs and Gurdwara before burning Sri Guru Granth Sahib on the road.

He said he had sought intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AP chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to take stern action against those hurting Sikhs and Sikhs religious sentiments.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK 

Anti-Sikh riots victims living in darkness, BSES wants them under fold

New Delhi: Living in government-alloted flats in Tilak Vihar, they have received free electricity for almost three decades but now the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims have been asked to apply for new connections to get uninterrupted supply. 

Some 500 families in the area say they are being "forced" to apply for electricity connections by power distributor BSES Rajdhani. 

The families claim that they were promised free power by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as part of rehabilitation of victims of November 84 carnage. However, they have nothing to show on record. 

BSES on its part says that they did not make any promise and people must get new connections for uninterrupted supply. 

There are 944 janta flats, which used to get power through a 1000KV transformer which burst on September 6. BSES has for the time being installed a mobile transformer of 600KV, saying there was no point investing in an area which gives them zero revenue. 

The residents of this area are now enduring long power cuts of at least 16 hours a day. 

According to sources in BSES, the distribution company suffers an annual loss of Rs five crore because of non-payment by consumers in this area. 

"Life has become hell. My children's studies are getting affected during exam times. What do we do? We get power only for storing water in the morning and evening. We can't sleep properly. We don't get power during nights. These last 30 days have been terrible," said Rupinder Kaur. 

Another elderly lady, who lost her husband during the riots, said the government should first fulfil all its promises, then "we are ready to have metres and pay bills". 

A BSES official said all their efforts to convince residents to get the meters installed have failed. 

"It's not that we want to harass people. The annual loss that we incur is more than five crore. We keep talking to them, ...But there is no positive response," the official, who is involved in the talks with residents, said. 

"Earlier, there were only bulbs or fans in their rooms but now they have air conditioners too. People use heaters. Due to overload, the transformer gets burst early...We surely don't want to harass them," he said. 

Ajeet Singh, who was three-years old when he lost his father in riots, said they want an assurance from authorities that they will not have to pay arrears and will get subsidy. 

"After my father's death, I lost my mother in 1986. I could not study properly and don't earn much. You know how costly power is. Unless we are given in written assurance that we will not have to pay bills of previous years I am not going to get a meter installed in my house," he said. 

Atma Singh Lubana, an activist in the area, said he has written to the government that they be given subsidy. 

"I don't have anything to show but Rajiv Gandhi had announced that victims will get free power. We will convince people to get meters installed if we get some subsidy.We want there should be no charge on consumption of 1-200 units and Rs 2.50 should be levied for units from 201-500," he said. 

However, the BSES official said, "There are no government guidelines that they will not have to pay. And even if there were, it was the government, which made the promise not us, so let government pay it. If subsidy has to be given, it has to come from the government and not from us". 

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

Sikh Gurus' Portraits Removed from Los Angeles Bar and Cafe.

Los Angeles, California- UNITED SIKHS International Civil and Human Rights 

Advocacy (ICHRA) Team received an email confirmation from the Pikey Bar and Café Management detailing that the portraits of the Sikh Guru’s have been removed from the Bar as of October 1st, 2013.

After learning of the portraits, UNITED SIKHS first wrote to the Bar management on August 29th, 2013 expressing deep concern and anguish of the community. We explained to them why this act is so disrespectful, and asked for immediate measures to be taken to address it. Specifically, we requested for removal of the portraits, and offered to have them transported to the nearest gurudwara.

Pikey Bar and Restaurant management responded by removing the pictures of the portraits from their website, but did not acknowledge receipt of our communication. After numerous follow up communications and on being unable to solicit a response, UNITED SIKHS created an online petition on behalf of the Sikh community. The petition requested the Pikey Bar and Restaurant management to respect the religious sentiments of the Sikhs by removing the portraits of the revered Sikh gurus from the Bar. It informed the management that to hang the portraits of the Sikh gurus in an establishment serving alcohol is a sacrilegious act. 

A few days after the petition was launched, the Pikey Management contacted UNITED SIKHS Staff Attorney Manmeet Singh and confirmed that the management had decided to take down the pictures. After numerous back and forth communications and much convincing, Singh received a call last night from Mr. Abraham Beltran, Special Projects Manager at Committed Inc., the parent company of Pikey Bar and Restaurant, informing that the portraits had been taken down. In an email sent  today, Mr.Beltran summarized our conversation confirming the removal, and shared the attached picture which shows that the portraits are no longer there.

“UNITED SIKHS is humbled to successfully address another issue which had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs. In future, we hope business establishments will be more considerate of, and sensitive towards religious sentiments of every community” said Manmeet Singh.

We would like to thank Mr.Abraham Beltran and the management of Pikey Bar & Café for understanding the sensitivity of this issue, and taking the right step.

Our heartfelt gratitude to S. Parminder Singh of Buena Park for informing us about this issue, the community and individual activists who have written to and called the Pikey management directly and signed the petition. If you are interested in volunteering with our legal team for similar causes, please sign up here.

You may read a previous report on UNITED SIKHS' advocacy for the Sikh community here

For media inquiries, please contact media-usa@unitedsikhs.org.

Issued By:

Manmeet Singh

Staff Attorney, International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA)

law-usa@unitedsikhs.org 

www.unitedsikhs.org

Tel: 1-646-688-3525

Punjab University beats IITs to be rated India's best : Hindustan Times

Amritsar Sikh museum being readied for news times

Preserving times gone, Central Sikh Museum (Ajaib Ghar) at the Golden Temple is getting ready for future, all set for a major facelift that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has finalised.

The plan rolled out suggests elevators, plush flooring, and touch-screen and audio catalogues will be added to the facilities. The SGPC has roped in expert curators and architects to come out with something spectacular. So far, no deadline fixed but the authorities concerned promise early start to the project's first phase.

As the museum is on the first floor, the elevators will help disabled people and senior citizens reach the galleries. "It is one of the most eminent museums of the state, and in near future will be no less than leading international galleries," said Iqbal Singh, additional manager of Darbar Sahib. "It will attract foreign visitors who are interested in history."

Looking into the future, he visualised a new manner of displaying pictures to make it easy to grab information and appreciate art. In 1958, the-then SGPC president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, inaugurated the museum to preserve the artefacts and history related to Sikh Gurus. Other than historical pictures, it displays old musical instruments; maps; Nanakshahi coins; weapons; and Guru Gobind Singh's Kanga (comb), Kamar Kasa (belt), and Gatra (sword sling); besides Mool Mantar written by Guru Hargobind.

Visitors would also like exploring the world-journey map of Guru Nanak Dev, and gain awesome knowledgeable from the detailed wall paintings based on the life of Sikhism's founder. The exhibits document many other historical incidents, struggles, and proud moments in Sikh history.

Six grand halls with high ceilings receive good daylight to bounce on more than 400 paintings and highlight the brief descriptions in Punjabi, Hindi and English. If you want further information, the many sewadars in the galleries will assist you.

The galleries hold the works of great artists such as Sobha Singh, Karpal Singh, SG Thakur Singh, Aulak Singh, Gurwinderpal Singh and Sukhwinderpal Singh. Directions from all entrances to the Golden Temple can help increase the footfall.

Museum overview

Open seven-days a week from 7am to 7pm (summer); and 8am to 8pm (winter) Photography not allowed. For any museum-specific project, take permission for photography from the SGPC officials. No entry fee.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

Gov. Christie Nominates Sikh American as County Prosecutor

United States

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced Sept. 12 that he will nominate Gurbir Singh Grewal, an assistant U.S. attorney from Glen Rock, N.J., as the next Bergen County prosecutor.

If approved by the New Jersey state Senate, Grewal would become the first Sikh American to serve as a county prosecutor in New Jersey, leaders of the Sikh community told NorthJersey.com.

Grewal’s nomination ends months of speculation over whom Christie would tap for the position.

A Democrat, John Molinelli, has held the post since being nominated by Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2002. He was reappointed by Gov. Jon Corzine and continued to serve as a holdover since his term expired in January.

Christie in a statement said Grewal “has the right credentials and background to be the chief law enforcement officer for Bergen County. He also brings diversity to a highly diverse county.”

The Sikh American prosecutor has been working in Newark, N.J., at the U.S. Attorney’s office as deputy chief of the economic crimes unit and computer hacking and IP crimes unit since 2010, Politicker NJ reported.

A year ago, Grewal helped prosecute an employee of a New Jersey defense contractor who was found guilty of exporting military-related technology to China.

He also recently prosecuted a former Morgan Stanley Smith Barney financial adviser who pleaded guilty in February 2012 to wire fraud on charges of money stolen from clients’ accounts.

Members of the Sikh gurdwara in Glen Rock, where Grewal and his family worship, told NorthJersey.com they are excited about Grewal’s nomination.

“It’s excellent news for the community, because I think he is one of what we call the new generation, born here, raised here and someone who went to school here and is a full-fledged Sikh,” said Karmjit Singh Sidhu, president of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sikh gurdwara on Prospect Street.

He added that Grewal’s father was a co-founder of the temple and Grewal has volunteered to serve meals at its community kitchen.

Amrik Singh Sikand, past president of the gurdwara, described the Sikh American nominee as “very dedicated,” and “hardworking.”

“His passion is public safety and that's why he is prosecuting people that have done wrong things," Sikand told NorthJersey.com.

Grewal is a graduate of Georgetown University and received a law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at The College of William & Mary. The Indian American is past president of the South Asian Bar Association of New York and is a member of the New Jersey Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association.

With Thanks : IndiaWest : LINK