Taj Singh

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Hopefully all UK politicians on all sides watched or will watch @Dabinderjit speak with @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost this morning on @SkyNews so eloquently about a very difficult and challenging issue with the tragic death of Henry Novak.

Politicians need to learn from @Dabinderjit and recognise the Sikh community has acted impeccably throughout and back the public inquiry suggested by the @SikhFedUK as the police, @CPSUK and the courts have failed Henry Novak and the Sikh community.

Many politicians that have met, know and worked with @Dabinderjit have never failed to be impressed by his in-depth knowledge, experience and the ability to connect through excellent communication skills.

Civil servants need to engage with the new leadership of @SikhFedUK to deal with Anti-Sikh hate (it will be 25 years since 9/11 in a few months), a statutory Code of Practice on the Sikh articles of faith (that is desperately needed due to ignorance) that was raised by Rob Marris MP in 2005, more than 20 years ago with a Labour Government Minister.

[Baku Initiative Group @bakuinitiative]

Final Statement of the Conference
“Countering Indian Transnational Repression: Sikh Resistance and the United Nations”

[News.Az @news_az]

⚡The Baku Initiative Group and the Sikh Federation presented a report titled “Indian Transnational Repression” at the Geneva Press Club in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 13, during an international conference on “Countering Indian Transnational Repression: Sikh Resistance and United Nations,” alleging cross-border pressure and intimidation against Sikh activists abroad.

The report cites cases including the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and a U.S. case involving Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Authors claim Indian authorities use surveillance, threats, and pressure on families to silence dissent overseas. The event reportedly faced cyberattacks during its livestream.

#HumanRights #TransnationalRepression #Geneva #India #Diaspora #PressFreedom

[Baku Initiative Group @bakuinitiative]

A report titled “Beyond Borders: Indian Transnational Repression Against the Sikh Diaspora” jointly prepared by Baku Initiative Group and Sikh Federation International presented to the public at the Geneva Press Club.
The 58-page report presents fact-based evidences of the systematic pressure mechanisms implemented by Indian Government against Sikhs and other ethnic groups abroad. Director General of the Geneva Press Club, experts in international law, human rights defenders and representatives of leading global media outlets such as the BBC and AFP, along with other media representatives attended the presentation ceremony.

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Sikhs welcome formal recognition by UK Government of the State of Palestine and call for support for the Sikhs’ right to self-determination

@SikhFedUK sent a 3-page letter to PM @Keir_Starmer @10DowningStreet yesterday welcoming the UK Government’s historic decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine and setting out why the UK Government has an additional historic and moral responsibility to assist Sikhs’ exercise their right to self-determination.

Read short press release below:

[The Sikh Network @TheSikhNet]

@WMPolice Appeal after Sikh woman raped in Oldbury in what is being treated as a racially aggravated attack.
https://t.co/WnVXkiOSNd

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Why is the Home Office @ukhomeoffice @YvetteCooperMP and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government @AngelaRayner not prepared to comment on this Anti-Sikh hate crime more than 10 days after the attack on elderly Sikh taxi drivers given @Keir_Starmer’s specific pledge to treat Anti-Sikh hate in the same way as Antisemitism and Islamophobia?

He said “successive governments” have failed the Sikh community, but his party and Ministers are doing the same on this and other issues.

Could @UKLabour MPs, especially those that will need the Sikh vote to pull their finger out and ask their government to clarify its position and actions on Anti-Sikh hate and other specific pledges to the Sikh community.

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

British Transport Police has made a statement and clarified its position.  

Their officers were also treated for minor injuries when they arrested the 17, 19 and 25 year olds responsible for the racially aggravated assault.

@birmingham_live @ExpressandStar @bbcwm @SkyNewsBreak

Despite the publicity and reaction across the globe the UK Government - 10 Downing Street, Home Office and Communities Department (MHCLG) almost a week later remain silent on condemning this incident and clarifying its position on Anti-Sikh hate.

@Keir_Starmer @10DowningStreet @ukhomeoffice @YvetteCooperMP @mhclg @AngelaRayner @LordWajidKhan

The three Labour MPs for Wolverhamton - Pat McFadden (who is a senior Cabinet Minister), Warinder Juss and Sureena Brackenridge (their constituents are the victims) should be asking Keir Starmer when his government will honour his pledge on Anti-Sikh hate, given he recognised successive governments had failed.

@patmcfaddenmp @WarinderSJuss @Sureena4WNE

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

https://t.co/0xNjsXJCpX

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

https://t.co/JssMQD5RE1

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

https://t.co/LL3LL38uW7

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Vicious racist attack on two Sikh elderly men in Wolverhampton

·      Police slow to reach out and support victims

·      Keir Starmer yet to deliver on his personal promise to treat Anti-Sikh hate on a par with Antisemitism and Islamophobia

‘Keir Starmer in his efforts to appeal to Reform UK voters needs to accept he has unwittingly unleashed a level of hate with his irresponsible ‘island of strangers’ immigration speech.”

Read full press release below:

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

The prime minister, @Keir_Starmer while in opposition, promised a Labour government would start a probe.

The @SkyNews headline does not accurately reflect the series of letters to the PM on 31 March, 1 June and 22 July.

Yesterday’s letter to the Prime Minister has requested a response by 31 July or the community would regrettably move forward with a “no platform” policy from 1 August for all Labour MPs that are not supporting a judge-led public inquiry until the government makes a formal announcement.

https://t.co/g3itJSr6hC

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

This is massive news that Jagmeet Singh @theJagmeetSingh the leader of the @NDP was targeted by the Indian government and could have been killed.

@globalnews is doing a fantastic job to expose India’s transnational repression and foreign political interference. More is to follow.

Waiting for @theJagmeetSingh himself to give the full story.

This will be one of many issues covered at the @AppgBritSikhs event on Tuesday 1 July in @UKParliament from 7-9pm.

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

MP repeats calls for inquiry into British role in 1984 storming of Golden Temple

https://t.co/OCO2xlC5VY

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

This is @SkyNews at 10. This has been running every hour since 5pm.

This along with the coverage in the @guardian

https://t.co/MQYSza6ARJ

should be an indicator to @Keir_Starmer @AngelaRayner @DavidLammy that @UKLabour must honour their promise or deal with the consequences of risking the Sikh vote.

We are hopeful opposition party leaders @Nigel_Farage @reformparty_uk @EdwardJDavey @LibDems @JohnSwinney @theSNP will support Sikhs to secure a judge-led inquiry and ask @Keir_Starmer @AngelaRayner why they are defending or justifying the actions of Thatcher and Parliament being misled in February 2014.

[Vikramjit Singh Khalsa @viksinghdosanjh]

Delighted to announce that I work for Derby County FC as an academy talent ID coach. It’s an absolute dream to work for the club I love & I’m the first Amritdhaari (baptised) Sikh to be employed in a coaching capacity. It can be done! Walls are being broken! Dreams
Achieved #dcfc

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Court acquittal today a huge boost to get Jagtar Singh Johal free and back to the UK

London – 4 March 2025

Jagtar Singh Johal earlier today had his 151st trial hearing and has been acquitted due to a total lack of evidence in the one case that has seen any progress.  

The other remaining cases are linked and are expected to be dropped after a court application. 

The Indian authorities have tortured Jagtar and threatened to burn him alive while in custody.  

However, despite forcing to give them a confessional statement more than 7 years after abducting and torturing him they have failed to produce a shred of credible evidence against him.

The court verdict today reinforces he has been in arbitrary detention in an Indian jail since 4 November 2017 that has been accepted by the UK Government after UN experts declared this three years ago.

Reacting to the news of Jagtar’s acquittal Dabinderjit Singh OBE, the Sikh Federation UK’s Lead Executive for Political Engagement said:

“Jagtar’s acquittal today due to a lack of credible evidence is a massive step forward to get him released and back home to the UK to be reunited with his family.”

“It opens up the way for all the other charges against him to be dropped.”  

“This should now be a formality and must happen as soon as possible as Jagtar has already lost 7 years of his life.”

“The UK Government need to keep up pressure and prepare to get him home quickly so he can be with his family and begin to enjoy married life.”

“Today’s decision is a vindication for all those that have campaigned tirelessly for his release and return as they knew he was innocent and being arbitrarily detained in an Indian jail.”

To keep up the pressure on the UK Government to stand up for British citizens arbitrarily detained in India we started a Parliamentary e-petition in December titled: Secure the release and return of British nationals arbitrarily detained in India.  

Constituents for over 500 MPs have signed the e-petition.  13 MPs (9 Labour, 3 Conservative and 1 independent) have already had over 100 constituents sign the e-petition and we have written to them to take specific actions.  

We also wrote to all 400 plus Labour MPs on 15 January and 25 February to ensure the UK Government keep up diplomatic pressure to get Jagtar released and back to the UK.  We know many Labour MPs have taken up Jagtar’s case with the Foreign Secretary.

ENDS
Jaspal Singh
Lead Executive
Sikh Federation (UK)

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Joint Committee on Human Rights – Inquiry into transnational repression in the UK

The Sikh Federation (UK) has made a detailed 32-page submission to the Joint Committee for Human Rights chaired by @DavidAltonHL

Evidence has been set out covering a 40 year period.  

It shows the Indian government under @narendramodi is the biggest and most aggressive perpetrator of transnational repression and foreign interference in the UK.  

This view is now shared by Western security officials and human rights organisations. 

@DLawrenceOBE @alexsobel @AfzalKhanMCR @DesmondSwayne @tomgordonLD @PDJSwallow

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

SIKHS TAKE UP ISSUES WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

London – 31 January 2025

Last week the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Davos she would go to India for her first trip of her new term.

This provided us an opportunity to right to Vice Presidents in the Commission responsible for Human Rights, Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law.  We shared with them the memorandum submitted by Sikhs across the EU to Ursula von der Leyen last January regarding transnational repression by the Indian government.  

We also used the opportunity to make them aware that five independent experts, or UN Special Rapporteurs collectively wrote to the Indian government on 19 November 2024 regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on 18 June 2023 and credible threats to life, intimidation and harassment against other Sikhs activists outside India.  We told them this was an issue that is directly impacting on Sikhs in different EU countries, but had not been highlighted in the media.

We also shared the formal response from the Indian government on 3 January 2025 that shockingly accused the independent Special Rapporteurs of bias and a strong preconceived hostility towards India, its sovereignty and its integrity and supporting a Sikh separatist agenda. 

We also wrote along similar lines last week to MEPs belonging to the Human Rights Subcommittee and the India Delegation who thanked us for the information provided.

This week a delegation of Sikhs from Austria, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and UK met in Brussels.  On 28 January we had an internal meeting to discuss some of the challenges faced by Sikhs in Europe around recognition and registration at the national level of the Sikh religion and way of life, restrictions on Sikh articles of faith and how to work better together across Europe.  

Later the same evening there was a press conference at the Press Club where the Sikhs and media representatives gathered were addressed by Vice President, Antonella Sberna.  She is responsible for the implementation of Article 17 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) through dialogue.  Before she spoke at the press conference Bhai Dabinderjit Singh did the scene setting in terms of the Sikh religion, Sikh way of life and identity and the challenges faced by Sikhs in Europe.

On 29 January Sikh representatives met Vice President, Antonella Sberna for a dialogue in the European Parliament.  This focused on relevant issues in the EU around official recognition of the Sikh religion and the Sikh way of life in different EU countries,  religious freedoms and the challenges to the Sikh identity.  

The Vice President in response explained the limitation of her powers, but she was told she and other MEPs from different EU countries could use their soft power and influence to assist Sikhs in different EU countries to get Sikhs official recognition and overcome some of the unnecessary hurdles.  A practical way to progress matters was agreed.

Bhai Dabinderjit Singh then spoke about Anti-Sikh hate crimes across the globe following 9/11 and transnational repression by the Indian government targeting Sikh activists in different countries, including EU countries.  This was topical and of particular interest to the EU officials present. 

This meeting, the press conference and meeting with the Vice President were facilitated by the EU Sikh organisation.  Given the interest in the latter issues and those relating to religious freedoms in India, Sikh political prisoners and impunity for human rights violations against Sikhs the plan is to hold a much larger follow up event in a couple of months focusing on these areas of interest.

ENDS
Jaspal Singh
Lead Executive
Sikh Federation (UK)