Sikh News
UK Sikhs Write to Over 150 MPs Against Life Sentence to 3 Sikhs in India for Possessing Literature
March 10, 2019 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
London: A press release issued by the Sikh Federation UK today states that the Sikh body had formally launched the Sikh political lobbying network last month to co-ordinate regular letter writing to MPs by constituents.
The UK based diaspora Sikh activists group maintained that the said network has already attracted more than 600 members with a reach of over 200 MPs from six different political parties across the UK.
Image used for representational purpose
Gurjeet Singh, press secretary of the Sikh Federation UK informed: “one of the first issues taken up was that of three Sikh youth given life imprisonment in India for “waging war” against India for simply possessing books, pamphlets and photographs”.
The three – Arwinder Singh (29) of Nawanshahr, Surjit Singh (27) of Gurdaspur and Ranjit Singh (29) of Kaithal in Haryana – were convicted on 31 January and sentenced to imprisonment for life on 5 February 2019.
“Within a week of the sentencing the Dal Khalsa that is closely associated with the Sikh Federation (UK) held a sit-in protest on the doorsteps of the court that convicted them as the judgement has far reaching implications on the right to dissent and the right to free expression”, the press release by Sikh Federation UK reads.
Legal experts have termed it a first-of-its-kind case where the accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment on recovery of incriminating literature and not any ammunitions or for an act of violence.
Sikh Federation UK said: “the court concluded the literature was for propaganda that could be used to incite people to campaign for a Sikh homeland. However, there has been widespread uproar by Sikhs across the globe, including Punjab and politicians from different political parties in Punjab have criticised the extremely harsh sentences”.
The letter to MPs states this “represents a serious breach of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as international law protects the right to freely express opinions and ideas. The right to freedom of opinion and expression is a foundation stone of a democratic society and the right is also essential at an individual level.”
MPs that have received letters were asked to write to the Indian High Commissioner in London to protest against the life sentences. In addition, MPs were asked to write to the Foreign Secretary to raise the matter directly with India and at the United Nations Human Rights Council as this demonstrates the continued persecution of Sikhs, the Sikh body said.
The Sikh Federation (UK) has also been in contact with Sikhs in other countries like Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand to write to their elected representatives as well as Sikhs in other countries to raise the matter with their respective governments.
Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said:
“In practice it is already extremely difficult for Sikhs to raise their voice on their right to self-determination. Many see the court judgement in this case as having overstepped the mark to crush all peaceful dissent.”
“UK MPs, including Ministers appreciate the dire situation the Sikh minority finds itself in India and we are confident that co-ordinated lobbying across the globe can eventually result in international invention to allow Sikhs to exercise their right to self-determination.”
To Get Sikh Siyasat News Alerts via WhatsApp:
(1) Save Our WhatsApp Number 0091-855-606-7689 to your phone contacts; and
(2) Send us Your Name via WhatsApp. Click Here to Send WhatsApp Message Now.
Sikh Siyasat is on Telegram Now. Subscribe to our Telegram Channel
Related Topics: Bhai Amrik Singh Gill, Dal Khalsa, Sikh Diaspora, Sikh Federation UK, Sikh News UK, Sikh Political Prisoners, Sikhs in United Kingdom
Leave a Reply
Listen Live Kirtan from Darbar Sahib (Amritsar)
Get Sikh Siyasat’s Android App
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT:
