Meetings/Events
4th March 2017 Operations Team Meeting took place at SCUK Leamington Offices 25th March 2017 Executive Committee Meeting took place at Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Leicester
11th March 2017 Representatives of Sikh Council UK attended the unveiling of a World War Memorial statue of Captain Ishar Singh Ji at Khalsa Science Academy Primary School Leeds. Captain Ishar Singh Ji fought in both the First World War and the Second World War, he was awarded the Victoria Cross by His Majesty the King for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. In his speech at the event Jagtar Singh Secretary General Elect thanked the host and took the opportunity to pay homage to the Captain and all Sikh soldiers that fought front line in battles.
13th March 2017 Secretary General Elect attended a roundtable meeting with Lord Bourne in developing a integration strategy going forward as follow up of findings of the Casey review Dame Louise Casey’s Independent Review of Integration and Opportunity, published in December last year.
Media/Public Statements
4th March 2017 Sikh Council UK hosted the ‘ Panth Di Awaz’ show at SCUK Leamington offices with Dr Gurnam presenting. Discussions included SCUK current work streams and priorities.
6th March 2017 Representatives of Sikh Council UK participated in Panth Di Awaz Akaal Tv programme held in London on current issues.
22nd March 2017 Sikh Council UK issued a statement following the terrorist incident in London Westminster, offering condolences, thoughts and prayers to all those that have been killed strongly condemning against this cowardly terrorist attack, which targeted the public and attempted to attack at the heart our democracy. Furthermore, SCUK urged all Gurdwaras and other community organisations to review security arrangements including checking CCTV provision is in working order and that any suspicious behaviour or incident must be reported immediately on 999 otherwise call 101 for all non-urgent matters. Anti-terrorism hotline number is 0800 789 321 for all suspicious terrorism related matters.
- Request was made to all 3 Sikh channels for a scroll requesting community vigilance and reporting of any incidents immediately.
In a public statement Sikh Council UK criticised the case of an immigration racket reportedly involving Sikhs and criticised border control officials for their failure to spot it. According to reports’ the individuals in question admitted running the scam in which they provided British passports of family members to refugees from Afghanistan who were then able to enter the UK using those passports. Border officials are said to have had difficulty spotting the refugees who were not the real passport holders due to the passport photos being of Sikhs wearing turbans.
29th March 2017 Sikh Council UK n a statement urged all Sikhs to remain engaged in the Brexit process following the triggering of Article 50 today (29/3) which has started the formal process for the UK to leave the EU within two years.
Community Issues
- Sikh Council UK facilitated a meeting between Gurdwaras in Coventry and the police in an attempt to resolve current issues that are causing community tensions. It was agreed from the meeting that representatives of SCUK would attempt internal community mediation to resolve matters and/or reach amicable solutions. This matter is still in progress.
- Secretary General of Sikh Council UK has led on liaisons between the Gurdwara Sahib and Police following a serious incident of beadbi at Woolwich Gurdwara Sahib. Subsequently SCUK also issued an update statement following the incident where the Met Police confirm an individual has been charged with additional charges following the arrest. The additional charges include racially and religiously motivated criminal damage which means this part of the case will be transferred from the Magistrates Court to the Crown Court i.e. from the lower to the higher criminal courts. The police engaged with the Sikh community on this matter and heard of the concerns on the gravity with which the community views any desecration of Sikh scriptures. the case continues
Campaigns
- Sikh Council UK were approached by Sporting Equals on behalf of the national regulative body for cricket in its consideration SCUK has initiated discussions relating to the broader outcome to be established. Considerations by SCUK currently underway include: * consideration to options available to Sikh Council UK to deal with requests from national sports regulatory bodies and from within the community for a consistent approach to the requirement for Sikhs to wear safety helmets in some sports. Decisions Required; * Whether to pursue an umbrella legislative solution or a dialogue approach with individual sports regulatory bodies and leisure providers. * Whether to carry out a detailed information and consultation exercise within the Sikh community to create and determine a general consensus of the outcomes desired
- Sikh Council UK circulated a briefing paper on European Court of Justice Judgment on religious attire in the workplace on the Judgment handed down by the European Court of Justice on 14 March 2017 regarding the legality of employers prohibiting visible manifestations of religious belief in the workplace. The briefing provides a summary of the role of the European Court of Justice, the background to the cases, the Court’s Judgment, the Sikh Council’s response to the Judgment and the impact to Sikh communities across Europe.
- Sikh Council UK referred a campaign case received by Southall Blacksisters onto Sikh Women’s Association to support in their demonstrations to be held outside Scotland yard for the death of a British national who died in India under suspicious circumstances, it is said that her children who are also British Nationals are kept in India by the father and not allowed to return to the Maternal family in UK. SCUK are appreciative of the five members of Sikh women’s Alliance supported the campaign by attending the demonstration on 29th March 2017.
