Kent gurdwhara got firebombed!

[khalsa mero roop]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,...1524555,00.html

[BibaKaur]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,...1524555,00.html

107927[/snapback]

the link doesn't work for me :doh:

[Balait_da_Sher]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/s...1524576,00.html

[fists_of_fury]

just read the link, disgusting it is ppl mistaking us for muslims but its kind of our faults not for educating the mass's this is the best time to produce leaflets etc to give out to non-sikhs to show them who sikhs actually are. another funny thing in that article is us sikhs some of us are much more prone to attacks due to our physical appearance resembling the mulim terrorists, yet in the article they cover mostly about hindus and muslims never sikhs. i get so pi**ed of , even when ken livingstone was giving a statement he was like "innocecnt attack on christians,jews, hindus and muslims" NO MENTION OF SIKHS EVEN THOUGH WE THE MOST LIKELY 2 gt the <banned word filter activated>. :doh:

[guruji's_student]

I agree with you fists of fury..i was acthing the news! NOT ONCE! did they mention sikhs!

But the impact its having on sikhs is just WRONG!

its madd whats happening...something needs to be done!

but people are so stupid... doind racially motivated attacks when the police could be helping other people like whos missing or links with the bombings...but racist people go and make the situation worser.

vgjkk vgjkfateh

[gupt_paapi]

just read the link, disgusting it is ppl mistaking us for muslims but its kind of our faults not for educating the mass's this is the best time to produce leaflets etc to give out to non-sikhs to show them who sikhs actually are. another funny thing in that article is us sikhs some of us are much more prone to attacks due to our physical appearance resembling the mulim terrorists, yet in the article they cover mostly about hindus and muslims never sikhs. i get so pi**ed of , even when ken livingstone was giving a statement he was like "innocecnt attack on christians,jews, hindus and muslims" NO MENTION OF SIKHS EVEN THOUGH WE THE MOST LIKELY 2 gt the <banned word filter activated>.

107932[/snapback]

ARGHHH KRODHHHH ARGHHH feel lyk crying/doing summing bad :<Edited>: :bringitondude :doh:

y?!

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

I agree with you fists of fury..i was acthing the news! NOT ONCE! did they mention sikhs!

But the impact its having on sikhs is just WRONG!

its madd whats happening...something needs to be done!

but people are so stupid... doind racially motivated attacks when the police could be helping other people like whos missing or links with the bombings...but racist people go and make the situation worser.

vgjkk vgjkfateh

107933[/snapback]

SIKH FEDERATION (UK)

PRESS RELEASE

Saturday 9 July 2005

SIKHS AGAIN BECOMING VICTIMS OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY

TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THE AUTHORITIES TO BLAME?

On Thursday the Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party in the UK, that is widely recognised as one of the largest and most influential Sikh organisations in the UK delivered one of the most scathing and damning statements condemning the perpetrators of the London terrorist atrocities.

The BBC reported the Sikh Federation (UK) as saying: "We totally condemn the terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians in London. These are the acts of cowards and a challenge to the international world. Those responsible have no respect for human life."

Yesterday the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, is reported to have met with Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh leaders following the bomb attacks, in order to coordinate responses with Britain’s faith communities. On the one hand it is good that the Sikh community was not overlooked, but most politicians statements show they have not learnt the lessons from the 9/11 aftermath.

Politicians when making speeches and the press are totally failing to mention the mistaken attacks on Sikhs even though the first place of worship attacked, within 24-hours of the terrorist atrocities, was a Gurdwara in Erith, Kent. The Gurdwara was firebombed, although the damage was limited to a broken window as the firebombs failed to ignite.

Sikhs are the largest and most visible ethnic minority and were the victims of mistaken identity following 9/11 throughout the world, including the UK. It is inexcusable that the authorities in the UK, where there are an estimated 700,000 Sikhs, including around 200,000 in London, have three and half years later been unable to find a way of recognising and finding a solution to the dilemma faced by Sikhs. Namely, that Sikhs are law-abiding and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorist attacks but are being abused and attacked for standing out and being different.

To make matters worse the Sikh Federation (UK), which has been the most vocal Sikh organisation in condemning these barbaric acts of terrorism is having it concerns about the threats to the Sikh community ignored. Indeed some of its key members have themselves been targeted with threats since Thursday, with no police action against those making threats.

The Government and the authorities are in danger of being accused by the Sikh community of doing nothing publicly and simply paying lip service to Sikhs in private. It is all the more surprising having just hosted Manmohan Singh, a turban wearing Sikh Prime Minister. It appears civil servants and politicians are so conscious of making public statements protecting the Muslim community from an unfair backlash that they may be unknowingly discriminating against Sikhs. Ironically, in the last few months we have heard politician after politician saying Sikhs are protected from racial discrimination but Muslims as a religious community are not. The reality is quite different.

Nothing will change with the Home Secretary meeting with one so-called Sikh "leader" that has a well known reputation within government of being a useful person to invite to such meetings and allow civil servants and politicians to tick the Sikh box! When the lives and religious institutions of ordinary Sikhs living in the UK are stake this will not do. The authorities need to ask if they are properly dealing with the complex dilemma faced by Sikhs and why no public messages of reassurance are reaching the grassroots of the Sikh community.

On Tuesday 12 July the first All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs is being launched at the Houses of Parliament and a Memorandum being delivered to 10 Downing Street. Representatives from over 360 Sikh Gurdwaras and organisations have been invited to the launch where the issue of mistaken identity will be high on the agenda of concerns with MPs and Ministers.

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

Note: The full statement issued by the Sikh Federation (UK) on Thursday 7 July after the terrorist attacks is at: http://www.sikhfederation.com/news/pr_london_blast.htm

LET'S MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AT THE SIKH LOBBY DAY

[fists_of_fury]

The BBC reported the Sikh Federation (UK) as saying

I have seen NO TV (BBC1,SKY NEWS ETC) or RADIO station report anything to do with Sikhs, only community somehow due to thier ignorance they feel are or might be under attack is the muslim or hindu communities.. damn man these politicians make me laugh just looks as though they have forgot about sikhs full spot, charles clarke and tony blair the big eared monkey freaks have yet to mention ANY statements reagarding Sikhs same with other ppl in iin similar positions.

[Guest A Singh.]

Veer Ji how can we complain the Gore have not accomodated us enough by doing Sikhi Parchar for us? The responsibility for Parchar sits squarely on the heads of Sikhs and the fact that they do very little means the blame remains on their shoulders and no one elses.

Before we complain that the media, governors are not promoting Sikhism as a seperate religion, have we checked that all our brothers have not discarded the Dastar for Patkas or hair cuts? If all Sikh boys resembled their father (Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj) and kept full Khalsa Roop of course the public would be aware of Sikhs. Only a small percentage of Sikhs keep the Khalsa Roop so why should be suprised when people do not know what Khalsa Roop represents?

How many sisters wear Dastar now? Those who try are faced with hardship because their other sisters have abandoned them by shying away from Khalsa Roop so a Dastar for a Bibi is not a common sight. How can you blame a Gora for confusing a Sikh woman with a Muslim (wearing a Rumal with Jura at the back being similar to a Somalian lady) or a Hindu (wearing a Chunni or even nothing, and being confused with a Hindu lady) if they have refused to keep full Khalsa Roop of Dastar and 5 Ks?

[amorphous_singh]

Veer Ji how can we complain the Gore have not accomodated us enough by doing Sikhi Parchar for us? The responsibility for Parchar sits squarely on the heads of Sikhs and the fact that they do very little means the blame remains on their shoulders and no one elses.

Before we complain that the media, governors are not promoting Sikhism as a seperate religion, have we checked that all our brothers have not discarded the Dastar for Patkas or hair cuts? If all Sikh boys resembled their father (Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj) and kept full Khalsa Roop of course the public would be aware of Sikhs. Only a small percentage of Sikhs keep the Khalsa Roop so why should be suprised when people do not know what Khalsa Roop represents?

How many sisters wear Dastar now? Those who try are faced with hardship because their other sisters have abandoned them by shying away from Khalsa Roop so a Dastar for a Bibi is not a common sight. How can you blame a Gora for confusing a Sikh woman with a Muslim (wearing a Rumal with Jura at the back being similar to a Somalian lady) or a Hindu (wearing a Chunni or even nothing, and being confused with a Hindu lady) if they have refused to keep full Khalsa Roop of Dastar and 5 Ks?

107946[/snapback]

I agree there is some responsibility on us to educating the masses; however what we are discussing are the ignorant actions of a number of individuals who are using the London blasts as an excuse to attack Sikhs. In no way is this excusable. We do not need to make excuses for this type of behaviour but we need to challenge it. No amount of education is going to help an ignorant racist; who couldn't care less who was responsible for the blasts to launch their own campiagn of intimidation and hate; blaming an entire community (whoever that is) is what feeds their racism.

If someone was to make the fallacious connection between the explosions and Sikhs then they should be corrected. We should not be cowered and slink away; anyone making such connections needs to have their ignorance and inherent racism challenged. As always we should remain viligilant but we need not be frightened. We should continue with our lives and with our campaigns; we should continue to challenge and highlight injustices where ever we see them.

Do not be afraid. Hold you head high and go about your lives and act like a Sikh; you are the daughters and sons of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Don't let the racists win.

And with that I'm off to 2 hours of Gatka training!