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London Bomb Explosions: Sikhs call for official action
By Sikh Commission on Racism & Cohesion
Jul 7, 2005, 12:14
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London Bomb Explosions: Sikh call for official action to prevent repeat of 9/11 racist frenzy
In an immediate reaction to the London bomb explosions, the Sikh Commission on Racism & Cohesion1 has expressed concerns about a repeat of post 9/11 racist frenzy against Sikhs and Muslims in Britain. Members of the Sikh Commission and other Sikh groups have condemned the explosions as a public outrage.
According to the Sikh Commission: “Following 9/11, visible communities like the Sikhs and Muslims became immediate targets of public racism from racist elements in British society. Anyone that was considered to be Muslim or Muslim-like in appearance, was targeted with vicious verbal racism, taunts and also physical attacks.“2 According to Jagdeesh Singh3, a member of the Sikh Commission, “Up and down Britain, Sikhs recognisable by turbans and beards, suffered daily racism on the streets, at work, in public venues and, also, in schools.” 4
The Sikh Commission is concerned that, in the absence of preventative action by the government and public authorities, the current London explosions could trigger a repeat racist frenzy. Dal Singh of the Birmingham based Sikh Youth & Community Service (a member of the Sikh Commission), says the “The London explosions are a vicious outrage and need to be firmly and totally condemned. At the same time, we need to see an official effort to protect exposed communities like the Sikhs from a repeat of the racist onslaught experienced immediately after 9/11.”
The Commission is concerned that, to date, no recognition nor action has been given to the clear pattern of racist hostility and attacks on the Sikh community5. “The Prime Minister and Home Secretaries have publicly condemned the post 9/11 racist attacks on the Jewish and Muslim community in Britain. However, in regards to the Sikh community, there has been a conspicuous silence and inaction. This begs the question, why?”. The Sikh Commission believes there has been no official push to prevent or address the attacks on the Sikh community.
The Sikh Commission is urging British Police Forces and the British Home Office to take account of the number and spread of attacks on communities like the Sikhs and Muslims. “Tragically and most unequally, many communities in Britain are not featured in the official ethnic monitoring prcoedures operated by the police and Home Office. These are wholly unrepresentative and restrictive, excluding Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, Somalians, Afghans, English, Scottish, Welsh, Arabs, Tamils, Gujaratis, Kurds, Polish, Greek, Kashmiri, Italian and many other substantive communities.”
According to Dal Singh (Sikh Youth & Community Service): “There is no public record, monitoring nor assessment of the attacks that take place on these communities who are excluded from the official systems. This amounts to institutional discrimination against a huge mass of the multi-ethnic British population”.
The Sikh Commission is urging public authorities, police forces and community organisations to remain vigilant against a repeat of the post 9-11 public racism. On Tuesday 12th July 2005, British Sikh organisations are gathering at the House of Commons for the official launch of a newly established All Party Parliamentary Sikh Group5. The Sikh Commission on Racism & Cohesion will be impressing upon the large gathering of MPs and Sikh representatives, the need for official attention and action on the cycle of racism on Sikhs.
Editor’s notes:
1. The Sikh Commisson was launched in March 2005, as a coalition of groups, to address the mounting issue of racist attacks on Sikh individuals.
2. The term ‘Bin Laden’ became a popular term of taunting Sikh males with their definitive beards and turbans. “Post- 9/11 revealed a very intense form of populist racism. It was very frightening. For Sikh individuals it became a common daily experience to be taunted with the terms ‘Bin Laden’.” To date, some 20 cases of serious physical assault have been reported on Sikhs.
3. Jagdeesh Singh was subject to a grievous attack, by racist thugs in Coventry, in September 2004.
4. In one school in Slough, a Sikh supply teacher was driven from the school with a barrage of racist taunts including “Bin Laden” and “terrorist” by the students.
5. Jagdeesh Singh says: “Despite numerous communications to the British government on this matter, including the Home Secretary and junior Home Secretaries, through letters, MPs questions, and otherwise; no statement of concern, condemnation nor action has been shown by the British Government.”
6. The ALL PARTY SIKH PARLIAMENTARY GROUP is being lauched on Tuesday 12th July 2005, at 12 noon to 2pm, at Boothroyd Suite, Portcullis House. The Group is chaired by Rob Marris MP. The Group will launch a series of Early Day Motions on Sikh issues. The Sikh Commission will request the Group to launch one on the issue of the bomb explosions and their potential impact on the communities like the Sikhs.
By Sikh Commission on Racism & Cohesion
Jul 7, 2005, 12:14
Email this article
Printer friendly page
London Bomb Explosions: Sikh call for official action to prevent repeat of 9/11 racist frenzy
In an immediate reaction to the London bomb explosions, the Sikh Commission on Racism & Cohesion1 has expressed concerns about a repeat of post 9/11 racist frenzy against Sikhs and Muslims in Britain. Members of the Sikh Commission and other Sikh groups have condemned the explosions as a public outrage.
According to the Sikh Commission: “Following 9/11, visible communities like the Sikhs and Muslims became immediate targets of public racism from racist elements in British society. Anyone that was considered to be Muslim or Muslim-like in appearance, was targeted with vicious verbal racism, taunts and also physical attacks.“2 According to Jagdeesh Singh3, a member of the Sikh Commission, “Up and down Britain, Sikhs recognisable by turbans and beards, suffered daily racism on the streets, at work, in public venues and, also, in schools.” 4
The Sikh Commission is concerned that, in the absence of preventative action by the government and public authorities, the current London explosions could trigger a repeat racist frenzy. Dal Singh of the Birmingham based Sikh Youth & Community Service (a member of the Sikh Commission), says the “The London explosions are a vicious outrage and need to be firmly and totally condemned. At the same time, we need to see an official effort to protect exposed communities like the Sikhs from a repeat of the racist onslaught experienced immediately after 9/11.”
The Commission is concerned that, to date, no recognition nor action has been given to the clear pattern of racist hostility and attacks on the Sikh community5. “The Prime Minister and Home Secretaries have publicly condemned the post 9/11 racist attacks on the Jewish and Muslim community in Britain. However, in regards to the Sikh community, there has been a conspicuous silence and inaction. This begs the question, why?”. The Sikh Commission believes there has been no official push to prevent or address the attacks on the Sikh community.
The Sikh Commission is urging British Police Forces and the British Home Office to take account of the number and spread of attacks on communities like the Sikhs and Muslims. “Tragically and most unequally, many communities in Britain are not featured in the official ethnic monitoring prcoedures operated by the police and Home Office. These are wholly unrepresentative and restrictive, excluding Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, Somalians, Afghans, English, Scottish, Welsh, Arabs, Tamils, Gujaratis, Kurds, Polish, Greek, Kashmiri, Italian and many other substantive communities.”
According to Dal Singh (Sikh Youth & Community Service): “There is no public record, monitoring nor assessment of the attacks that take place on these communities who are excluded from the official systems. This amounts to institutional discrimination against a huge mass of the multi-ethnic British population”.
The Sikh Commission is urging public authorities, police forces and community organisations to remain vigilant against a repeat of the post 9-11 public racism. On Tuesday 12th July 2005, British Sikh organisations are gathering at the House of Commons for the official launch of a newly established All Party Parliamentary Sikh Group5. The Sikh Commission on Racism & Cohesion will be impressing upon the large gathering of MPs and Sikh representatives, the need for official attention and action on the cycle of racism on Sikhs.
Editor’s notes:
1. The Sikh Commisson was launched in March 2005, as a coalition of groups, to address the mounting issue of racist attacks on Sikh individuals.
2. The term ‘Bin Laden’ became a popular term of taunting Sikh males with their definitive beards and turbans. “Post- 9/11 revealed a very intense form of populist racism. It was very frightening. For Sikh individuals it became a common daily experience to be taunted with the terms ‘Bin Laden’.” To date, some 20 cases of serious physical assault have been reported on Sikhs.
3. Jagdeesh Singh was subject to a grievous attack, by racist thugs in Coventry, in September 2004.
4. In one school in Slough, a Sikh supply teacher was driven from the school with a barrage of racist taunts including “Bin Laden” and “terrorist” by the students.
5. Jagdeesh Singh says: “Despite numerous communications to the British government on this matter, including the Home Secretary and junior Home Secretaries, through letters, MPs questions, and otherwise; no statement of concern, condemnation nor action has been shown by the British Government.”
6. The ALL PARTY SIKH PARLIAMENTARY GROUP is being lauched on Tuesday 12th July 2005, at 12 noon to 2pm, at Boothroyd Suite, Portcullis House. The Group is chaired by Rob Marris MP. The Group will launch a series of Early Day Motions on Sikh issues. The Sikh Commission will request the Group to launch one on the issue of the bomb explosions and their potential impact on the communities like the Sikhs.
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