London: The Sikh Federation (UK) has shared shock and sadness along with thousands of Sikhs and members of the public worldwide about the video of a young Sikh boy in the USA being bullied by fellow students and called a ‘terrorist’ on a school bus.
“This is totally unacceptable behaviour and has become increasingly more prevalent in society after 9/11. It is not restricted to the USA. Recently a Sikh man was brutally attacked in a racially motivated terror attack in North Wales. This worrying trend of ‘mistaken identity’ is negatively impacting upon the innocent Sikh community around the world, while national governments are failing to address the root cause”, said Gurjeet Singh, press secretary of Sikh Federation UK.
A release by the UK Sikh body says that [t]he Sikh Federation (UK) has lobbied the UK Parliament for a Statutory Code of Practice for the Panj Kakaars (5 Ks) and Sikh Turban. Which should also be followed up with a main stream media campaign to promote understanding of the Sikh identity, values and Sikh way of like as an integral and important part of British society. This issue has been identified by the Sikh Network and together with the demand for a separate tick box for ‘SIKHS’ in the Census 2021, they form part of the Sikh Manifesto 2015-2020 released at the end of January.
“Only when the Sikh community engages more in the political process, can we drive the changes that will not only protect our children from ignorant abuse, but also raise awareness of others about the recognition and contribution Sikhs make to Britain”, the release reads further.