Community Alert

PARTICIPATE AND MAKE VOICES BE HEARD!

Please complete the 2012-2013 Global Sikh Civil Rights survey sponsored by UNITED SIKHS.

Highlights:

UNITED SIKHS' Global: Click here to complete the 2012-2013 Global Sikh Civil Rights Survey. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard and your experience count. The results of this survey will help us understand what issues matter most to the global Sikh communities. Together, we can fight to protect and maintain the rights of Sikhs throughout the world.

"Six Sikhs lost their lives in the shooting on August 5th, 2012 at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin Gurdwara, a tragedy that became a pivotal moment where Sikhism was brought into the limelight of American society. This tragedy brought many institutional and societal problems to the forefront, most of all, the need to track and document hate crimes and violence perpetrated against minority communities on a global scale. This documentation is necessary not only to protect our basic human rights, but to also hold the perpetrators and social institutions accountable for these heinous actions. Similar cases involving hate crimes and discrimination occur against Sikhs around the world.

The fate of the Sikhs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, France and Belgium continue to be on shaky grounds where their rights are being violated."

In a landmark victory in a case filed by UNITED SIKHS, the United Nation's Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) upheld 17 year old Bikramjit Singh's fundamental right to practice his religion in France. The UNHRC said that France had violated Bikramjit Singh's religious rights by enacting a law that banned the wearing of the turban in school that led to his expulsion. This landmark decision serves as a reminder to all countries of the significance of the Sikh turban so that they do not pass laws or implement school regulations that require the indiscriminate removal of a Sikh's turban. UNITED SIKHS had secured a similar victory at the UNHRC, early last year, in the case of 76 year old Baba Ranjit Singh. Baba Ranjit Singh was refused a renewal of his French residency card because he didn't agree to be photographed without his turban. The Committee gave a decision in his favor and said that that France had violated his freedom of religion rights by asking him to remove his turban.

"We have made big strides with your assistance in working on individual cases and highlighting the different kinds of discrimination and obstacles that Sikhs face around the world." By participating in this survey, you can perform your part in sharing your experiences and highlighting the discrimination that you may have faced, so that UNITED SIKHS can continue to fight for our rights on a global scale.

Please support UNITED SIKHS and our ongoing work in Civil and Human Rights Advocacy, Sikh Aid and Community Education and Empowerment.



Manmeet Singh
Staff Attorney, International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA)
UNITED SIKHS
Tel: (646) 315-3909
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law@unitedsikhs.org

Our Mission

To transform underprivileged and minority communities and individuals into informed and vibrant members of society through civic, educational and personal development programs, by fostering active participation in social and economic activity.

UNITED SIKHS is also an avenue for networking between like-minded organisations to establish and nurture meaningful projects and dialogues - whether social, cultural or political- to promote harmony, understanding and reciprocity in our villages, towns and cities.

UNITED SIKHS is a coalition of organisations and individuals, who share a common vision based on the belief that there is no greater endeavour than to serve, empower and uplift fellow beings. The core of our philosophy is an unwavering commitment to civic service and social progress on behalf of the common good.

Accordingly, UNITED SIKHS has sought to fulfil its mission not only by informing, educating and uplifting fellow beings but also by participating in cross-cultural and political exchanges to ensure that the promises and benefits of democracy are realized by all.

We at UNITED SIKHS believe that the development of enlightened and progressive societies can be made possible by socially conscious groups of people who make a commitment to develop and direct human potential. Our work, efforts and achievements stand as a testament to our faith in this vision.

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