Statutory Regulations on the 5K’s and Turban: UK provides a good legislative framework for practicing Sikhs but the dispersed nature of this framework is difficult to understand and navigate. Introduction of Statutory Regulations with legal basis that collates current legislation and guidance will simplify and ensure consistency in preventing discrimination.

Brexit: UK Sikhs and Government often drive issues of concern across the EU. Sikhs have concerns about the European Court of Justice ruling allowing employers to prohibit wearing of visible manifestation of religious belief in the workplace. Sikhs need to be able to raise issues with those engaged in Brexit negotiations.

Caste Legislation: Sikhs believe caste and caste based discrimination is wrong and should be eliminated. The inaccurate reference to Sikhs in the caste definition (Equality Act 2010) should be removed. There should be no unintended consequences that entrench rather than eliminate caste with a focus on existing provisions before introducing new provisions.

Sikhs and India: UK political parties and Government should do more in recognising and addressing human rights abuses in India. Sikhs require an independent public inquiry, including full disclosure of documents, into UK Government involvement in the 1984 attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji complex, Amritsar by the Indian army and subsequent events.

Ethnic Monitoring of Sikhs: Sikhs call on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to agree to a separate ethnic tick box for Sikhs in the 2021 Census and to issue revised guidance to public bodies on collecting, monitoring and using ethnic group data by requiring Sikhs to be monitored as a distinct ethnic group.

OTHER ISSUES:
x Recognition and Honoring Sikh Role in World Wars
x Improved Sikh Representation in Political and Public Life
x Clearer Food Labelling of Meat Products
x Addressing Hate Crime Against Sikhs
x Support for Sikh Schools

Labour Party Deputy Leader Tom Watson visited Gurdwaras in his West Bromwich East
constituency today and highlighted Labour’s manifesto commitments to the Sikh community ahead
of the forthcoming general election.

Addressing the congregations at Guru Nanak Gurdwara and Guru Har Rai Gurdwara, Tom Watson confirmed the Labour Party would be pledging to establish an independent inquiry into Britain’s role in connection with the Indian military attack at Harmandir Sahib (known as the Golden Temple) in Amritsar in 1984. He also confirmed Labour would be committing to honour those Sikhs who gave their lives in serving the country in the First and Second World Wars.

Reflecting on the upcoming general election Tom Watson mentioned the Labour Party had selected six candidates from a Sikh background including in nearby constituencies in Birmingham and Telford. He expressed his hope that Labour would emulate the political landscape in Canada where there are many more Sikhs at the forefront of politics and public life

Sikh Council UK representatives Secretary General Elect Jagtar Singh and Board of Jathedars Convenor Joga Singh addressed the congregation at Guru Nanak Gurdwara and similarly Sikh Council UK Spokesperson Jagjit Singh and Chair of Indian Subcontinent Affairs Committee Gurdial Singh Atwal addressed the congregation at Guru Har Rai Gurdwara during the visits. All representatives congratulated Tom Watson on delivering on the commitments he had made to the Sikh community in respect of the 1984 disclosures and Sikh representation and welcomed his desire to further increase the number of Sikhs in the Labour Party.

Sikh Council UK condemns the suspected terrorist atrocity in Manchester. It was a cowardly and barbaric act to target innocent victims including young children at a music concert and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

The Sikh community stands in solidarity with the people of Manchester at this difficult time and we are heartened to read the stories of Sikhs assisting the victims and their families during this atrocity such as the Sikh taxi driver AJ Singh running his taxi service for free overnight as communities come together to support the victims. We encourage all Sikh Gurdwara managements to arrange prayers for the victims and their families and to attend community initiatives to show solidarity at this time.

It is unfortunately the case that Sikhs and Sikh places of worship are often targeted following terror attacks where the perpetrators are in fact motivated by Islamophobia. We are calling upon all Sikhs and Sikh institutions to remain vigilant and take all relevant security measures.

Sikh Council UK urges any Sikhs affected by the atrocities or victims of hate crimes to report all concerns to the police and to Sikh Aware UK the hate crime monitoring platform of the Sikh community. Further details of Sikh Aware UK ca

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.