The Sikh Federation UK, steadfast in its advocacy for Sikh rights, since its inception two decades ago, both within the United Kingdom and globally, has raised its voice against the ongoing persecution of Sikhs, particularly in India on the occasion of World Human Rights Day. The Federation’s unyielding stance against the Indian government’s policies, which echo distressing parallels to historical tyrannies, and its campaigns for justice in high-profile cases like Jagtar Singh Johal’s, are at the forefront of this struggle.
Unsparingly, the Federation has taken the UK government to task from time to time and special mention must be made of its well-documented critique of the highly biased and historically incorrect Bloom Review about Sikhs.
The Federation’s message is clear: the struggle for human rights is universal, transcending borders and cultures, deeply rooted in the teachings of the founder of the Sikh faith, who courageously championed these values over five centuries ago. WSN narrates the story of human rights as told by the Sikh Federation UK.

In an era where the world grapples with the ghosts of autocracies past and present, the Sikh community stands as a testament to the enduring fight for human rights. On this 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Sikh Federation UK, a vanguard in the pursuit of Sikh rights, draws inspiration from the profound teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji, the founder of Sikhism.

The Federation’s advocacy goes beyond the UK’s political landscape, challenging the Indian government’s policies that are likened to autocratic regimes of the past.

The cases of Jagtar Singh Johal and Avtar Singh Khanda are emblematic of the broader struggle against human rights violations and the suppression of minority voices. Johal’s prolonged detention without trial and Khanda’s mysterious death have become rallying points for the UK Sikh diaspora, demanding accountability and justice.

“Guru Nanak’s vision, transcending time and borders, remains a guiding light in our fight against modern-day tyrannies,” says Dabinderjit Singh, the Chief Adviser to the Sikh Federation, UK.

“Sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus to protect religious freedoms, Sikh teachings, and the Sikh way of life compel Sikhs to be human rights champions,” reads the Sikh Federation UK statement.

Chastising India for its role in demeaning the Sikh community, the Sikh Federation, often referred to as the political party of the Sikhs in the UK states, “Sikhs have rightly stood up to those running India since its creation in August 1947 and refused to sign the first Indian Constitution in 1950 that promoted assimilation of Sikhs. We then had continuous discrimination against Sikhs and their homeland culminating in the 1984 Sikh Genocide that has been recognized by the highest courts in India and accepted by the ruling BJP Indian government.”

“India continues to indefinitely detain Sikh political prisoners and in recent months has been caught red-handed in cases of transnational repression, including the assassination of Sikh activists in the Diaspora.”

India’s democratic decline, marked by a worrying shift towards autocracy, has raised alarms globally. The undermining of key institutions such as the judiciary, media, and civil society organizations like the BBC, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace, signifies a troubling trajectory.

“The Sikh community, guided by the timeless teachings of their founder, will continue to be at the forefront of this global struggle for dignity, freedom, and justice.”

Sikh Federation, UK

The statement of the Sikh Federation on World Human Rights Day argues that the Hindutva ideology championed by the current Indian government poses a significant challenge to global peace and human rights. The parallels drawn between the tactics of the Indian government and those of historical autocrats like Hitler are stark and disturbing.

Bhai Amrik Singh, Chairperson of the Sikh Federation UK contends that the logic of non-interference in internal affairs, used by Indian regimes past and present, cannot be a shield for human rights abuses.

The Federation’s role in political advocacy, its associations with parliamentary groups and human rights bodies, and its campaigns against injustice underscore the Sikh community’s commitment to being champions of human rights. Their role transcends the injustices to the Sikhs and takes note of the humanitarian cause of the residents of Gaza as well.

As the world reflects on the 75th anniversary of a landmark human rights document -the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Sikh Federation says, “The Sikh community, guided by the timeless teachings of their founder, will continue to be at the forefront of this global struggle for dignity, freedom, and justice.”