M A I N   N E W S

US Senate condemns violence against Sikhs
K.S. Chawla

The US Senate yesterday condemned the bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans. The resolution was introduced by Senator Richard Durbin.

Expressing the concern of the Senate, the resolution maintained “Crime against Sikh Americans in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks are to be condemned and prevented and prosecuted.”

The resolution specifically called upon the local enforcement authorities to “prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who commit crimes against Sikh Americans.” Unfortunately in the aftermath of the September 11 attack, there are those who in misguided anger and fear turned on their neighbours and fellow Americans. They mistook symbols of religious belief, such as turbans and beards, for distrust, terror and destruction. Recent terrorist attacks should never cloud our judgement when it comes to our fellow Sikh Americans. Sikh Americans share with us the pain and sorrow of the September 11 tragedy,’ said Senator Durbin. Sikh men are easily recognised by their turban and beard. Both are required articles of religious faith for Sikhs. Many are unaware that Sikhism is a distinct religious faith and that most Sikhs are from South Asia and do not belong to religious and ethnic groups associated with the attacks. Sikh-Americans strongly condemn backlash attacks against any and all Americans.

Senator Durbin introduced the resolution which was co-sponsored by 37 other Senators as a result of a meeting with Amrith Kaur and Gurpreet Singh, senior members of the Sikh American Association, a Washington-based group working to protect Sikh Americans following the terrorist attacks. The Sikh American Association is part of the Sikh coalition, a group of Sikh organisations that have come together to address the concerns of Sikh Americans generated by the events of September 11.

“For the Sikh Americans, the passage of this resolution will begin to restore the sense of security that has been lost as a result of the many backlash attacks,” said Amardeep Singh, Director of Legal Affairs for the Sikh coalition.

“The resolution is a clear commitment from our government that it will not let terror tear America apart,” said Mr Gurpreet Singh.

Prof Jagmohan Singh, General Secretary, Akali Dal (Amritsar), while thanking the American Senators for the resolution that this timely step by the American legislators will tide away the hate crime scenario in the USA and the West and pave the way for more respect and understanding for all ethnic communities in the USA.

Prof Jagmohan Singh also praised the work of Amrit Kaur and Gurpreet Singh of the Washington-based American Sikh Association and various other individuals and organisations across the USA, who worked relentlessly with Senators and Congressmen to make this possible.