Over Seas

United Sikhs takes action against publication of a photo of a Nihang Sikh in an Aussie Porn Magazine

January 29, 2013 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Brisbane/Queensland, Australia (January 29, 2013): “On 26 January 2013 “Manmeet Singh, a newsagent in Brisbane, Queensland, brought to the attention of United Sikhs the first-page article, “Turban Legend” in a pornographic magazine “The Picture” (#1272 30 January 2013). He saw a photograph of a Nihang Sikh (belonging to a centuries-old warrior Sikh order) on the cover page as he was shelving magazines in his shop, then saw the article and was deeply distressed” informed a recent press release by United Sikhs, a US based NGO.

As per information he magazine shows a photograph of a Nihang Sikh with hands clasped in prayer (the unclear background is of the Darbar Sahib (Golden temple), the sanctum sanctorum of Sikhs in Amritsar, Panjab). The article about Nihang Sikhs is surrounded by photographs, including at the foot of the article, of nude females. The entire magazine displays raunchy nudity and is replete with foul, irreverent and inappropriate language and the tone ridicules the dumalla (turban) and Nihang Sikhs. The magazine is on sale Australia wide.

“United Sikhs is of the view that the publishers have breached both Federal and State criminal, civil and human rights laws. We are lodging a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission” reads the release, a copy of which is available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN).

“The United Sikhs Legal and Advocacy’s Rapid Response Team is liaising directly with Manmeet who has not only withdrawn the magazine from his agency’s shelves but will urge other retailers to do likewise” a United Sikhs representative told SSN.

While talking to SSN Sukhwant Singh, Director, National Legal Affairs, United Sikhs-Australia pointed out that, “Those in positions of influence must remain vigilant on 2 fronts: promote harmony and preserve Australian diversity and discourage attempts to de-harmonise diversity, increase risk of active abuse and marginalise a minority. Importantly, in this instance, there is a need for prompt reassurance to ethnic Australians that the article does not represent the views of main stream Australians”.

He informed that the United Sikhs is reviewing the criminal sanctions that may apply and are obtaining legal advice covering Federal and all States/Territories laws for the purposes of lodging police complaints.

Besides this the organization is notifying all Sikh Gurdwaras and organisations of the publication to galvanise concerted action at State and Federal levels and to inform the sangat (congregation) by protestations to the publishers and Members of Parliament (MPs).

He further informed that: “We are activating its Legal Team to issue formal legal notices to the publishers, printers and distributors and to launch the necessary legal action under Federal, States/Territories laws including the Australian Human Rights Commission” and “issuing a statement to all State and Federal Premiers and Members of Parliament” he added.

Summarizing the focusing points on the issue the statement issued by United Sikhs reads as below:

“Right to Free Speech:

United Sikhs supports and advocates for the democratic right of all Australians to free speech. Such a right comes tempered with responsibilities to fellow ethnic and culturally diverse Australians.

Social Responsibility &Respect for Fellow Australians:

Right minded and morally upright Australians, especially on a soul-searching Australia Day (on 26 January 2013), have merely to examine the placing of the image of a Sikh, regaled with Sikh religious symbols during a religious event, with raunchy nudity to feel deeply affronted. The image so displayed with the abundant and callous use of vulgarity is irreverent, intended to ridicule, morally reprehensible, religiously offensive, profoundly insensitive, sharply hurtful and, really, un-Australian, to say the least.

Infrequent (yet regular) and sporadic (yet persistent) ‘minor’ and isolated (but incremental) snipes and sneers couched as verbal jocularity and covert degrading of religious beliefs, depicted sensationally, seem to be ‘under the radar’ until the trials and tribulations of minorities in some parts of the world are flashed onto our TV screens with sickening and appalling constancy.

Hardcopy magazines, stung by the proliferation of social media, seek to profit by publicising increasingly offensive and inflammatory commentary to secure media attention and enhance distribution statistics”.

Action Required by MPs:

The United Sikhs has called upon all Australian MPs to stand up and publicly condemn irresponsible and morally offensive publications such as this article and to call on the publishers to exercise common decency, restraint and responsibility towards fellow ethnic and culturally diverse Australians.

Action Required by Government:

United Sikhs has called upon all Australian Governments to review, revise and refine legislation and processes in response to, and to curtail the conduct displayed in, publications such as this”.

United Sikhs has also urged every Sikh (especially in Australia) to call up the local Federal and State MP and lodge a protest and insist that the MP takes the action suggested above.

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Related Topics: Sikhs in Australia (Sikh News from Australia), United Sikhs

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