WSC-AR Stands in Solidarity with EU Sikhs on Kirpaan Issue
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2006
Contact: Manmohan Singh, Secretary General, World Sikh Council - America Region, 972-684-4638, contact@worldsikhcouncil.org
The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) appreciates and stands in solidarity with the efforts of Sikhs in the European Union (EU), led by the Sikh Federation (UK), in refusing to enter the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on May 31, 2006 without their kirpaans.
The WSC-AR supports the courageous stand taken by the Sikh Federation (UK) by not compromising the pledge of Amritdhari (formally initiated) Sikhs to bear the kirpaan, and will work with the Sikh Federation (UK) and other sister Sikh organizations at the international level.
Dr. Manohar Singh, Chairperson of WSC-AR said, "We stand firmly with the Sikhs of Europe as they stand up for the right of Amritdhari Sikhs to bear the kirpaan as a required religious article of the Sikh faith."
In August of 2004, Mr. Kuldeep Singh, the Chairperson of WSC-AR at that time, declined an invitation to a White House event because the White House staff would not allow Amritdhari Sikhs to enter with their kirpaans and recommended that a medallion depicting the likeness of the kirpaan be worn instead. The National Council of Churches in the USA supported the position taken by WSC-AR even though the event organizers denounced this stand.
The WSC-AR continues to be concerned that at events organized by some Sikh organizations at the White House and Capitol Hill, Amritdhari Sikh attendees are still not allowed to wear their kirpaans.
"The Sikh Federation (UK)'s position of respecting the sanctity of the kirpaan should be an example for Sikhs across the world to not undermine the articles of the faith to have a cup of tea with politicians," said Mr. Surinderpal Singh, Vice-Chairperson of WSC-AR.
The Kirpaan is one of the five articles of the faith required to be worn by all Amritdhari Sikhs. The Kirpaan (literally meaning "bringer of mercy") represents the Sikh pledge to resist oppression and injustice but only in a defensive posture and never to attack anyone or to initiate a confrontation.
The Sikh Federation (UK) had organized the Sikh Freedom Lobby at the EU Parliament on May 31. Of the more than 150 Sikhs who were planning to attend, only a dozen or so with kirpaans were ultimately allowed to enter. The Amritdhari Sikhs asked by EU security personnel to remove their kirpaans refused to enter the Parliament building. The meeting at the EU Parliament had been organized to discuss the following issues: - Freedom for Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and other Sikh political prisoners languishing in jails in India, - Freedom for Sikhs in Europe to practice their faith, - Freedom to expose the genocide of Sikhs since 1984 and the widespread abuse of human rights in India, and - Freedom of Sikhs to exercise their right to self-determination in South Asia.
The Sikh Federation (UK) was established in September 2003 with the aim of giving Sikhs a stronger political voice by taking an increasing interest in mainstream politics in the UK. The Sikh Federation (UK) is a non-governmental organization, but to discharge its duties as an effective pressure group it is also registered with the UK Electoral Commission as the first ever Sikh political party in the United Kingdom.
The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the United States. Its members include 40 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and other Sikh institutions across the nation. WSC-AR works to promote Sikh interests at the national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, and the well-being of all humankind.
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Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR: 1. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA 2. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA 3. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA 4. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA 5. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO 6. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA 7. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 8. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL 9. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA 10. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI 11. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI 12. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS 13. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC 14. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ 15. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ 16. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ 17. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ 18. Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh, Las Vegas, NV 19. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY 20. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY 21. Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH 22. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH 23. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH 24. Guru Nanak Religious Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH 25. Sikh Sadh Sangat, Easton, PA 26. Philadelphia Sikh Society, Millbourne, PA 27. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA 28. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN 29. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX 30. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX 31. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX 32. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA 33. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA 34. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI
Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR: 1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA 2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS 3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY 4. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH 5. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH 6. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX
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World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) P.O. Box 3635 Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Phone: 614-210-0591 E-mail: contact@worldsikhcouncil.org Website: www.worldsikhcouncil.org
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