UNITED SIKHS Appeals for Concrete Action to Protect Minority Communities in the Region

Peshawar, PAKISTAN: Jaspal Singh, a resident of Peshawar, was brutally beheaded by Pakistan Taliban. He was one of three Sikhs abducted by the Taliban approximately 41 days ago and held for ransom. The other two abductees, Gurvinder Singh, and his uncle Surjeet Singh, are reported to be still in the custody of Taliban, their release pending their families’ payment of the demanded ransom. UNITED SIKHS is appealing to several international and national level human rights organizations for concrete measures that will protect Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan against such gross injustices.

Jaspal Singh (file photo)

Local sources suggest that Jaspal Singh, Surjeet Singh and Gurvinder Singh, all residents of Dabagaree Garden, Peshawar were en route to Khyber Agency to meet with relatives when Taliban militants kidnapped them in the Chora Tanga Akaakhel area on January 11, 2010 in the afternoon. Initially, the Sikh community in Peshawar was reluctant to report this incident to media or to the Government due to fear of repercussions from Taliban, and the families, along with the local community and local Sikh leaders attempted to negotiate the release of three Sikhs.

Sources report that the Pakistan Taliban viciously beheaded Jaspal Singh the night of February 20, 2010 in the Upper Tirah valley Region on the border of Khyber and Orakzai agency and threw his body on the rocks. In a letter that was found on the body of Jaspal Singh, the Taliban demanded 20 million Pak Rupees ($235,000 USD) for the release of the other two Sikhs, warning relatives and the Sikh community against approaching the media. The letter further stated that the Sikh minority community would risk the lives of the two Sikhs in captivity and could also face threats of suicide attacks if the details of beheading and kidnapping were revealed to the media or security forces.

Jaspal Singh?s Dead Body before Cremation

Information received from local sources suggests that Taliban forcefully attempted to convert the Sikhs to Islam. However, when the Sikhs refused to convert, Jaspal Singh was mercilessly slaughtered.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh governing bodies have strongly denounced the attacks, and Sikh communities across the world are in mourning.

UNITED SIKHS has been working with Sikh families who took refuge in the Peshawar Gurdwara last year and has been helping these families to establish small businesses and start a new life in safer regions. As part of the relief efforts for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), UNITED SIKHS advocacy group met with the Pakistan Minister on Minority Affairs last year and brought to his notice the plight of the Peshawar Sikhs.  These Sikh families are yet to receive IDP status and UNITED SIKHS Team has been advocating for their rights to ensure that the Government takes responsibility of these families.

To read more about UNITED SIKHS relief efforts in Pakistan, please visit

https://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-29-09-2009-00.htm,
https://unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-02-02-2010-00.html,
https://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-03-08-2009-00.htm

 Issued by:
Rucha Kavathe
UNITED SIKHS
Media and Communications Coordinator
law-usa@unitedsikhs.org

646 688 3525