Community leader says Sikhs are scared to leave their homes due to ‘politicisation’ of Nowak killing

The entire Sikh community has been “in the dock” and some are afraid to come out after the violent response to Henry Nowak’s murder sparked protests led by far-right agitator Tommy Robinson, a community leader has said.

Jas Singh, chief advisor to the UK Sikh Federation, said: Independent The community was being targeted due to the actions of the perpetrator Vickrum Digwa, and there were reports of Sikhs across the country being threatened and threatened.

Mr. Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was stabbed to death in December and was arrested and handcuffed as he lay dying on the ground. His killer, Digwa, falsely accused him of racism, leading police to mistakenly believe that Mr. Nowak did not need immediate assistance.

Sikh community leaders were quick to condemn Digwa’s actions, making it clear that these actions were contrary to the teachings of the Sikh faith.

But Reform UK and Restore Britain used the opportunity to call for a ban on the kirpan, a ceremonial Sikh dagger worn by baptized Sikhs and not even the weapon used in murder.

The hearing heard Digwa wore a traditional kirpan under his clothing, but the gun he used to stab Nowak was larger and was worn in a holster over his clothes.

Nigel Farage also called for “pure cold anger” in a video address on Tuesday in response to footage showing how police officers treated Mr Nowak as he lay dying. Police Minister Sarah Jones hit out at his comments on Wednesday, saying they were “irresponsible” and “unhelpful” after violent clashes between protesters and police in Southampton.

Mr Singh said Independent There was “politicization of this cause by the Far Right, Restoration and Reform,” adding: “They have inflamed the cause and are dragging the Sikh community as a whole into this, which is extremely irresponsible.”

He added: “They are doing the exact opposite, especially when Henry’s father has made it very clear that he does not want this case to incite hatred. Nigel Farage and others are using this case for their own agenda.”

He added that police had questions to answer about how Mr Nowak was treated in his final moments and that a review of the police response was right.

He warned: “The entire Sikh community is being thrown into the dock for the action of one person. Every day we are asked about people who are afraid to go out because they cannot separate themselves from the kirpan. It is an integral part of their existence. No one will take off their turban, we are a very diverse community. So I tell people to be careful, to be aware of their surroundings, to wait for comments.”

He called on the government to provide support to the Sikh community, such as extra security at Gurdwaras and financial support for hate crime reporting. He referenced the targeting of ethnic minorities that took place after the migrant hotel protests, saying: “The last thing we want is another tragedy on our hands”.

Mr Singh said more support was needed for the Sikh community after two Sikh women were raped in separate racist attacks at the end of last year. He said: “We have to face this wall-to-wall barrage of demonization on our own.” He added: “It snowballed out of control, I would describe it as a burning inferno, our society has never been more in the spotlight and in flames.”

The council of Southampton Gurdwaras said in a joint statement that Digwa’s actions were “in direct contradiction to the Sikh teachings and values ​​that have guided Sikh communities in Britain for more than five centuries and over 150 years”.

Labor MP Tan Dhesi said Henry’s father had treated him with dignity and coolness when he told him outside court that he did not want his son’s murder to cause division, hatred or tension. Mr Dhesi told the media: “This is not about Sikhism, this is not about racism, it is about murder committed by a violent individual.”

Speaking about the fears of Slough voters, particularly those in the Sikh community, Mr Dhesi said: “Many of them are afraid, not only are they ashamed that it was committed by someone from the Sikh community who is visibly Sikh, they are also going through shock, but also fear for many of them because of calls from organizations like Reform and Restore to ban the kirpan… they are afraid of their ability to practice their faith freely.”

Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said they had received reports of Sikhs being threatened and threatened across the country. He said: “Sikh organizations in the UK are doing all they can to express their condolences to the loved ones of Henry Nowak because the real tragedy of this time is his murder.

“However, despite her father’s pleas for this not to happen, there are reports from across the country of Sikhs being threatened and intimidated, often in relation to wearing the kirpan. We have received messages from kaurs (Sikh women) saying they feel unsafe traveling at the moment.”

He added that community groups are now considering how they can protect their members.

In a joint statement on Thursday, Southampton’s local MPs Darren Paffey and Satvir Kaur said the protests rocking the town were a “bizarre and cynical spectacle in which the death of a young man was used to whip up division, inflame tensions and incite criminal mayhem”.

They added: “To those who choose to miss this tragedy to come to our city and incite hatred: you are not welcome here.”