Sikh Federation UK supports those arrested by police at Leamington Gurdwara

London: While criticising the police action against some Sikhs who were reportedly protesting against an ‘inter-faith marriage the Sikh Federation UK has extended support to those arrested by the police at Leamington Gurdwara.

“We stand with those who peacefully protested earlier today against the actions of the Management Committee at Leamington Gurdwara who have conducted themselves disgracefully”, reads a written statement issued by Gurjeet Singh, Press Secretary of the Sikh Federation UK.

“As facts of the incidence have emerged throughout the day, the Sikh community has concluded that Warwickshire Police overreacted by unnecessarily deploying armed officers on the basis of false and fabricated information presumably provided by the Management Committee at Leamington Gurdwara” reads the statement.

“It now materialises the police were told masked men forced their way into the Gurdwara carrying a range of bladed items other than Kirpans, that are worn at all times by Amritdhari or initiated Sikhs and it may have been suggested they were holding hostages. The police have now admitted those protesting simply walked into the Gurdwara in the early hours and they have only found small Kirpans that were being legitimately worn by Amritdhari or initiated Sikh protesters. The police should either apologise to the Sikh community for the disproportionate response or take strong action against those who provided false information and wasted police time and resources by exaggerating the seriousness of the situation”, said Gurjeet Singh.

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“One media outlet has used the headline: ‘sword-wielding gang storm Sikh temple’. However, this could not be further from the truth. The protesters were respectful and peaceful at all times in the Gurdwara from video footage from inside the Gurdwara. CCTV footage will show they simply walked into the Gurdwara in the early hours and none of them were ‘wielding’ swords”, said he.

According to the Sikh Federation UK, [t]his was a small group of young protesters who justifiably objected to an interfaith marriage that was to be carried out as a Sikh religious ceremony or Anand Karaj. The highest seat of Sikh temporal power, the Sri Akaal Takht Sahib or the throne of the timeless one, in Amritsar that exists to address spiritual and temporal concerns of Sikhs has ruled a Sikh religious ceremony or Anand Karaj is only appropriate between two Sikhs. A Sikh who therefore wishes to marry a non-Sikh and have an interfaith marriage is free do so, but an alternative to the Sikh religious ceremony or Anand Karaj that is conducted in a Gurdwara is necessary.

“In August last year and following a number of protests Gurdwaras across the UK came together and agreed not to perform any Anand Karaj ceremonies unless it was between two Sikhs. Virtually all Gurdwaras adopted this approach for all future bookings. When the agreement was reached last year protesters were requested to hold off having any protests for six months to allow Gurdwara Management Committees time to explain the situation to any couples from a Sikh and non-Sikh faith who may already have incorrectly made a booking for an Anand Karaj ceremony”.

“To the credit of the vast majority of management committees at Gurdwaras up and down the country and protesters there have been virtually no incidences of disruption to any Anand Karaj ceremonies in the last 12 months. However, their have been consistent reports that the Management Committee at Leamington Gurdwara were defiantly still booking Anand Karaj ceremonies between Sikhs and non-Sikhs ignoring the ruling of the Akaal Takht that is binding on all Sikhs worldwide and disregarding the agreement on implementation reached by UK Gurdwaras last year”.

“As reports of the incident started to emerge this morning attempts were made by the Sikh Federation (UK) to contact the National Community Tension Team via telephone and email. Warwickshire Police were contacted by us at around 12.30pm so we could try and help explain and diffuse the situation. We lodged a complaint with them at around 9pm as we were concerned the police were telling friends and family of those arrested and community representatives late into the evening that they were in contact with the Sikh Federation (UK) when in fact they had not responded to any of our communications. We are also disturbed with the nature of questioning by the police of the peaceful protesters” reads the statement.

“The police have reported they have arrested fifty-five people on nothing more than suspicion of aggravated trespass as it now transpires no force or violence whatsoever was used as the protest was calm and peaceful. We have become aware most if not all of the protesters have been released, however small Kirpans worn at all times by Amritdhari or initiated Sikhs have been seized without good reason and unnecessary bail restrictions imposed. In our view these restrictions on where the protesters may or may not go to a Gurdwara impinge on their freedom of worship, especially given next week will see the largest annual gathering of Sikhs at our National Sikh Convention at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton that will attract in excess of 10,000 Sikhs from across the UK”, reads the statement.

“Today marked the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and the Management Committee at Leamington Gurdwara should be ashamed of their actions. We are meeting government officials and Ministers tomorrow where hate crime and discrimination targeting the Sikh community are to be discussed. This incident of a legitimate peaceful protest given the unnecessary media hype and the police overreaction will no doubt cause considerable debate”.